At Home Living 081217

Saturday, August 12, 2017 An advertising feature of The Topeka Capital-Journal

home.cjonline.com remodeling project

After-retirement sanctuary Washburn professor adds office to home page 6 n Planning a fall veggie garden, page 2 n White? Use it wisely in decor, page 5 n Personalizing your dorm room, page 8

keith horinek/THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

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Now’s the time to start fall vegetable garden With cooler days approaching, many home gardeners are harvesting their summer vegetables with a heavy heart, knowing the season is ending.

Although the days of swimming pools and ice cream trucks are behind us, fall is an excellent time for vegetables. Proper care of summer vegetables can long extend their season, while new plants, most often thought of as spring vegetables, are ready once again to be planted.

First, keep what you have. Tomatoes, peppers, okra, eggplant and sweet potatoes may continue to grow and put on fruit through the cooler months.

With these established plants, gardeners should be careful not to overwater. By now these plants should have a well-established root system and won’t need the same amount of irrigation they received on intense Kansas summer days. They

Ariel Whitely

arielw@ksu.edu

won’t need additional fertilization either.

The biggest concern with these summer vegetables will be frost, which likely will end their production. To protect against a minor frost — especially an early frost — cover them with a breathable material. You can purchase row covers or use what you have. Sheets, towels and cardboard all work as long as they aren’t heavy enough to break stems, or placed in such a way to break them.

Now, plant something new.

Most of the plants you had in your spring garden are perfect for your fall garden. Cucumbers, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, summer squash, leafy greens, beets, carrots and beans all can be grown in the fall.

One plant that isn’t wellsuited for fall is peas. The cold temperatures they require for seed germination can’t be met in early fall.

Although suitable for fall weather, there are some unique considerations with this timing.

Plants in the Brassicacea family (broccoli, cauliflower and brussels sprouts) should be planted by seed, rather than transplants, and thinned to one plant per 1 foot of row when they’re about half an inch tall.

Beets and carrots will need adequate moisture in order to emerge from the soil. A sprinkle of compost or even sand may aid

MARK YOUR CALENDARS n Master Gardeners will answer your lawn and garden questions from 7:30 a.m. to noon Aug. 12 at the Downtown Topeka Farmers Market, S.W. 12th and S.W. Harrison. n Elsie Gibeson, Shawnee County Extension Master Gardener, will present “Monarchs, Milkweed and Way Stations” at 7 p.m. Aug. 17 at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, 1515 S.W. 10th Ave. in their ability to break the soil surface by preventing crusting.

Lettuce is extremely frostsensitive, showing marginal burning with even a light frost.

Fortunately, the inner leaves are usually safe, making it possible to harvest this salad favorite later than other greens.

Spinach and kale are excellent choices for the fall and also have some success overwintering. Enjoy eating both in the fall, but don’t harvest all the leaves.

By allowing some leaves to remain and applying a light mulch, they likely will reappear in your spring garden.

Care of a fall garden is similar to other times of the year.

Although many parts of Kansas receive adequate rainfall in the fall, it’s important to monitor your soil’s moisture. Many of the cool-season crops planted in the fall can tolerate heat as long as there is sufficient moisture available.

Adding organic matter prior to planting fall vegetables may actually increase the likelihood your soil will dry out. Instead, save this application for late fall.

Brassicas and leafy greens WHITELY continues on 3

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Kit makes shower upgrade easy Whitley: Plant in fall

By Ed Del Grande Tribune News Service

Continued from 2

need fertilization two weeks after transplanting, or four weeks after sowing the seeds. Four tablespoons of a high-nitrogen, allpurpose garden fertilizer per 10 feet of row will help ensure lush growth. Other vegetables won’t require additional fertilization.

Planting times for all fall crops vary greatly, with some needing a late-July start and others tolerating a mid-September initiation.

For a complete vegetable garden calendar, reference K-State Research and Extension’s “Kansas Garden Guide” (bookstore.ksre. ksu.edu/pubs/S51.pdf).

Don’t let fall pass by without delicious, fresh produce.

Ariel Whitely is a horticulturist with K-State Research and Extension in Shawnee County.

Q: Dear Ed: I have a basic 3-by-3-foot shower stall and always wanted a rain headtype showerhead. With an existing standard shower stall, how do you convert to a rainstyle showerhead without turning it into a big remodel project?

— Paul, Rhode Island

A: Standard shower heads are usually wall-mounted because they’re designed to spray out and into the center of the shower stall. On the other hand, rain showerheads are usually mounted on the ceiling of the shower stall and they’re designed to “rain” down into the stall.

So, if you try to install a rain-style showerhead onto a standard wallmounted shower arm, it

Rain-style showerheads are usually mounted on the ceiling of the shower stall. A hydropiping kit that connects to existing mixing valve water pipes allows for a rain-shower upgrade without causing remodeling issues.

may not perform to its full potential.

To avoid some remodeling issues, you could look into new hydro-rail piping kits that connect to your existing mixing valve water pipes. These attractive piping kits are mounted inside the shower stall and feature a long, arched shower arm that extends up toward the shower stall ceiling.

Once the retro-fit kit is installed, simply attach the new head to the extended arm fitting to complete the rain shower upgrade without causing a storm of remodeling issues.

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.

Kohler

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Use white wisely in decor

By Cathy Hobbs

Tribune News Service

For many, white can be one of the most difficult colors to use.

Unlike many other colors, white literally comes in hundreds of tints and shades. Some shades of white may appear bluer, others grayer, and still other shades of white may appear yellow.

White is also a very difficult color to match, and results are unsuccessful. On the other hand, a dominant white, or pure white decor, can appear fresh, elegant and soothing.

If considering working with white, here are some overall do’s and don’ts.

Do: ■■Pay attention to the colors that will surround your particular shade of white. White is one of those colors that is often impacted by what surrounds it. For example, if a white sofa is placed next to a bright green chair, the sofa may appear to have green undertones.

■■ Experiment with different shades of white during different times of the day. Color is very much impacted by natural light.

■■ Experiment with different materials. You can mix materials in a space, such as a wood object

Design Recipes

Pure white cabinets paired with a white table looks stunning on top of wood floors. painted white with white lacquer cabinets.

■■ Consider a pure white or white-dominated color scheme. It can appear fresh and bright.

■■ Consider styling decorative spaces, such as shelves with pure white accents.

Don’t: ■■ Be afraid to mix different shades of white. Just be sure to select shades that complement.

■■ Be afraid to use white floor coverings, such as area rugs. They can serve well in special areas or those that don’t get much foot traffic.

■■ Be afraid to mix pure white with cream, tints, tones and shades of white.

Tip of the week: Stitch in time

Button dangling on its thread? To prevent that from happening with other garments, coat the center of each button with a drop of clear nail polish. Once dry, it will prevent the thread holding on the button from fraying over time.

Source: heloise via goodhousekeeping.com

They can be used successfully in the same space.

■■ Forget to use white decor items, such as mirrors, toss pillows and books. These neutral accents will blend well with existing decor.

■■ Ignore that white is a color. From leaving white trims to white walls and furniture and furnishings, white can serve as a great accent color.

Cathy Hobbs, based in New York City, is an Emmy Award-winning television host and a nationally known interior design and home staging expert with offices in New York City, Boston and Washington, D.C. Contact her at info@ cathyhobbs.com or visit cathyhobbs. com.

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HOme remodel

An office sanctuary

Retired Washburn professor creates home work space

By Linda A. Ditch

Special to The Capital-Journal

When you walk into Barry Crawford’s new home office, the style meets your expectations of a room built for a newly retired Washburn University professor of philosophy and religion.

A large, dark-wood desk and leather chair take center stage, with a matching hutch placed behind. A leather club chair is placed by the corner windows for comfortable reading or an office visitor. Every inch of wall space contains loaded bookshelves.

However, there are hints to a humorous side of Crawford along with the serious books, world globe and busts of President Abraham Lincoln and scientist Albert Einstein.

The first clue is a jar labeled as containing the ashes of former students.

Then there is the small figurine of the “Star Wars” character Yoda on one corner of his desk, with a sign on the other corner saying, “I don’t like morning people, or mornings, or people.”

“This is my sanctuary,” Crawford said.

“I’m thinking of putting a sign above the doorway with the quote from Dante, ‘Abandon all hope, ye who enter here.’”

Crawford had a very practical reason for the home office. Although he retired from 38 years of teaching, he still plans to keep up in his academic field, which means research and writing. In fact, a book he co-edited, “Redescribing the Gospel of Mark,” was recently published.

The new space required an addition to the home Crawford built in 1987. He turned to Winston Brown Construction for the project. The construction company crew was able to make the new room look like it was part of the original house, both inside and out.

When they heard about the need for shelves to hold all of Crawford’s books from his Washburn office, they had him take photos of the collection to create a plan. One option they proposed was a two-story office with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, a sliding library ladder and a spiral staircase, but Crawford felt a one-story room was enough.

OFFICE continues on 7

Keith Horinek/The Capital-Journal

Barry Crawford, retired Washburn University professor of philosophy and religion, enjoys spending time in the new office in his home.

The recent addition includes ample shelving for his estimated 15,000 books.

Far left: Winston Brown Construction was able to make the office addition like it was part of the original house, both inside and out.

Right: A bust of Abraham Lincoln finds it place on a shelf alongside books about the U.S. president.

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Office: Retiree says he is pleased with result Continued from 6

However, he did follow their suggestion of using dark wood stain on the shelves, which matches the desk and hutch he bought at Nebraska Furniture Mart.

The Winston Brown crew started work in March and finished in May. The room’s entry features a glass-paneled pocket door, and its windows have the blinds inside between the glass.

Crawford was talked into a ceiling fan, and he’s happy he listened. He pointed out the Winston Brown crew knew what they were talking about when it came to project suggestions. One example was an electrical outlet with a brass cover that comes up through the rug under the desk.

“I had mapped out the electrical outlet on the floor, because I didn’t want a lot of wires running from my desk,” Crawford said. “They said I needed to move it another 6 inches into the middle of the room. I thought it would be too far, but I went with their suggestion, and they were right.”

As for all of those books, just how many are there? Craw-

ford doesn’t know for sure, but he guesses about 15,000.

He moved all of them from Washburn himself — all 99 boxes — a few at a time. And he admits, with a smile, “No, I haven’t read every one of them. I might have read a lot of them, but there’s not much I’ve retained from a lot of them.”

As far as working with Winston Brown, Crawford said he was pleased with the experience and the end result. He noted they were careful about keeping the dust from construction quarantined to the work area.

His wife also had the company do some updating to the kitchen by removing wallpaper, painting, refinishing the wood floors and installing new light fixtures.

Would Crawford change anything?

“Maybe I should have got a smaller desk,” he said. “If I had anything else to do, I’d call on Winston Brown. Now, whether or not they’d want to do another project with me is another matter.”

Linda A. Ditch is a freelance writer from Topeka. She can be reached at lindaaditch@gmail.com.

Keith Horinek photographs/The Capital-Journal

The windows feature blinds between the glass panes.

The room’s entry features a glass-paneled pocket door.

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Affordable projects to remake dorm room

By Cathy Hobbs

Tribune News Service

It is that time of year again when thousands of college students head back to school. Whether a dorm room is shared by a single roommate or many, there are ways to make the room special without breaking the bank.

Here are some easy-to-make DIY ideas, guaranteed to glam up any dorm decor.

■■ Create a collage. Many college students arrive wanting and needing a sense of home. One creative idea is to create a large collage with treasured photographs.

Purchase a large picture frame, or a few.

You can hang one large frame or hang them in a series. Choose the photographs you wish to display.

Group the photos in a creative way. One option is to place them on a colorful background, made using construction paper, wallpaper or gift wrap. Glue photographs on background.

■■ Create an instant wall mural. Even though it may be someone else’s dorm room next semester, there is nothing wrong with you infusing a little bit of personality while the room is yours.

While painting is an affordable and easy way to add temporary color and personality, removable wall stickers are one of the hottest trends in wall decor. Paint the walls a solid color, or leave white if you prefer. Purchase affordable wall stickers.

Peel and place, forming your desired design.

■■ Make your own study desk. From refinishing a desk purchased at a thrift store

to painting or lacquering a raw piece of wood and placing it on a decorative base, there are lots of ways to jazz up study time.

Purchase a wooden desk at a thrift store or flea market (or plain piece of wood, such as a door slab and trestle leg bottom).

Sand off the existing finish using a rough sandpaper.

Paint the desk using a high-quality paint primer. Then paint the desk using a high-quality paint in an eggshell finish (a little sheen will help enhance the look of your finished piece). Replace hardware, if desired.

■■ No-sew curtain panels. Grab some affordable fabric and some fusing tape and you are good to go. All you need is a hot iron to fuse the seams together.

Purchase fabric double the width of your enclosure opening. Purchase a grommet gun (they punch holes and insert grommets). Fold your fabric on the bottom at the desired length; add tiny weights if desired. Place fusing table in-between your hem. Use a steam iron (on steam setting) and place on top of hem, causing the fusion tape to melt and create your closed hem.

■■ Affordable toss pillows. Toss pillows are relatively affordable and the right pattern and color can really add impact to a space. If you want a budget- and craftfriendly idea, why not make toss pillows from affordable scarves?

Take two scarves of equal size. Face your scarves toward each other with the side you want to expose on the inside.

Place fusion tape around three sides. Use a steam iron (on steam setting) and place

Dreamstime

Students returning to college often want to customize their dorm rooms to show off their personalities. That doesn’t mean they have to spend a lot of money. Fabric, wallpaper and picture frames are easy, affordable ways to add character. on top of hem, causing the fusion tape to melt and create your closed hem.

Stuff your pillow with batting or with a down insert. Close the fourth side using a hand stitch.

■■ Creative note/tack board. Whether it’s a way to post a visual reminder about an upcoming test or leave a note for your roommate that it’s time for them to do the laundry, tack boards are functional and a staple for dorm rooms.

Purchase an existing corkboard. Wrap cork board with batting. Cover in a bright, bold fabric. Criss-cross your favorite ribbon using an alternating pattern. Add upholstery tack pins and hang.

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