At Home Living 012117

Saturday, January 21, 2017 An advertising feature of The Topeka Capital-Journal

home.cjonline.com

Home decorating

The hottest color for 2017 Is it gray, beige or spa tones?

page 6 n Jamie Kidd on winter watering, page 2 n Home sales report for December, page 3 n Tips for hiring a handyman, page 4 n Protecting your pipes from freezing, page 8 metro creative connections

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Water trees, shrubs now to prevent root-hair damage Drought effects aren’t irreversible, but can be minimized El Nino, La Nina, cold air, warm air, rain, drought.

This winter has been a little odd for most of us, and most of us have lived in Kansas for a lifetime.

I can’t remember a winter with so little snow. While we have had some rain, and rain totals seem to be only a little short for the average, we are in a drought situation.

So, how can this be?

In terms of plant growth and health, it’s the frequency of rainfall received during a season that is of greater significance than the total amount of precipitation in a given year. We had a fair amount of rain in northeast Kansas in

JAMIE KIDD

DATES TO REMEMBER

n Master Gardener Elsie Gibeson will talk about how recycled materials can be used in the garden and yard at 7 p.m. Feb. 16 at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, 1515 S.W. 10th Ave. Gibeson also will have examples to view. n The Kansas Garden Show is Feb. 10-12 at the Kansas Expocentre, 1 Expocentre Drive. jamiehan@ksu.edu

November and a few short inches since then, but between then and now, there have been at least 46 days in a row of drought. This pattern is likely to continue for a while — or until El Nino and La Nina decide to get along.

Long, dry periods this fall and winter make it necessary to water trees

and shrubs to minimize losses coming in spring and summer. The recent rain and snow have helped, but damage may still happen if we don’t get frequent rains. It is better to be prepared and ready to water if needed.

Drought can result in injury or death of the tiny root hairs that absorb the bulk of the water a plant takes in. Root hairs — some of which are one

cell thick — are largely confined to the top 15 inches of soil, where they also are able to obtain oxygen. The larger roots are for support. The plant’s water-absorbing capacity is severely reduced with the death of root hairs.

Newly transplanted trees and shrubs are particularly vulnerable to drought, because they already have sustained

root injury during transplantation.

Watering tips

Watering during dry fall and winter months can help alleviate drought stress. Water only when air temperatures are above 40 degrees. Apply water at midday, so it will have time to soak in before possible freezing at night.

For shrubs: n Apply 5 gallons twice a month for newly planted shrubs. n Small established shrubs that are less than 3 feet tall should receive 5 gallons monthly. n Large established shrubs that are more than 6 feet tall require 18 gallons monthly. n Decrease amounts to

account for precipitation. n Water within the dripline of the shrub and around the base.

For trees: n Soak ground slowly to a depth of 8 to 12 inches using sprinklers, a deep-root fork or needle, soaker hoses or soft spray wand. n Water just inside the dripline and a little beyond. While there are some feeder roots nearer the trunk, it’s best not to encourage their growth.

Instead, water the root hairs farther out. n Generally, apply 10 gallons of water for each diameter inch of the tree. n Water one to two times per month.

For perennials: KIDD continues on 5

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Topeka-area home sales fall in December

By Jan Biles

jan.biles@cjonline.com

Home sales in the Topeka area dipped more than 6 percent in December, while the home sales volume in 2016 saw an increase.

Topeka area home sales fell in December 2016 to 224 units, a 6.7 percent decline from the 240 units sold in December 2015, according to data compiled

by Sunflower Association of Realtors Inc. that reflects home sales in Jackson, Jefferson, Nemaha, Osage, Shawnee, Lyon, Brown and Greenwood counties. However, total home sales volume in the Topeka area in 2016 was $33.2 million, up .8 percent from $32.9 million in 2015.

Overall, home sales from

2014 to 2016 fared well.

“We’ve seen a 15.5 percent increase over the last two years,” said Linda Briden, CEO of Sunflower Association of Realtors.

Homes that sold in December 2016 were typically on the market for a median of 23 days — a 32.8 percent decline from 2015 — and sold for 98 percent of their list prices. In comparison, homes were on the market 34 days and sold for 98.2 percent of their list prices in December 2015.

Luke Thompson, a Realtor at Coldwell Banker Griffith & Blair American Home and Sunflower Association of Realtors board treasurer, said a zero to four months’ supply of homes typically indicates a seller’s market. A supply higher than seven months

would reveal a buyer’s market, which means a home may be on the market longer and a buyer may have more choices from which to choose.

The number of active listings in the Topeka area at the end of December 2016 was 678 units, down 18.7 percent from the 834 active listings at the same point in 2015. The 2016 figures reflect a threemonths’ supply of homes available for sale.

“A seller’s market says you should sell your home,” Thompson said.

“And buyers should act as soon as possible,” added Joy Ward, another Realtor at Coldwell Banker Griffith & Blair American Home.

The median list price for active listings on the Topeka area market at the

end of December 2016 was $109,000, up 11.9 percent from $98,250 in December 2015.

“The supply is down, so the price goes up,” Thompson said.

The median home sale price in the Topeka area in December 2016 was $122,450, down 2 percent from $125,000 the year earlier.

During December 2016, 156 contracts were written, down 23.9 percent from 205 contracts written in December 2015.

At the end of December 2016, 225 contracts were pending, down 23.3 percent from 293 a year earlier.

In December 2016, 10 new homes were for sale, compared to six on the market a year earlier.

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Overall, home sales from 2014 to 2016 saw a 15.5 percent increase in the Topeka area.

DECEMBER 2016 HOUSING STATISTICS For Shawnee County

n Home sales: 176 units, down from 191 units in December 2015 n Total sales volume: $26.6 million, up .6 percent from a year earlier n Median sale price: $130,500, up from $125,900 in December 2015 n Days on market: Typically 20 n Total number of active listings at end of December: 450 units (a 2.6 months’ supply), down from 556 a year earlier n Median list price at end of December: $109,900 n Contracts written: 105, down from 143 a year ago n New listings: 3,430, of which 107 were new construction Source: Sunflower Association of Realtors Inc.

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Should I hire a contractor or handyman?

By Tom Moor Angie’s List

While handymen can handle many household repairs, they might not be licensed for some projects, like plumbing or electrical work.

If he or she isn’t licensed, hire a specialized contractor who is, or you could be liable for damages. Or, if you try to sell the home, you could pay more to fix the issue so it meets local code requirements.

Large projects that take time, machinery and multiple workers, such as a

kitchen remodel or home addition, often require a general contractor’s license. These projects often necessitate multiple types of licensing and levels of expertise.

A qualified handyman, though, can often tackle in one visit several smaller projects that don’t require licensing.

“A remodeling contractor and handyman are essentially the same thing in terms of ability,” said Dirk Hoerr, president of Budget Right Kitchens in Oak Park, Ill. “Where a remodeling contractor and a handyman typically

differ is the size and the scope of the work they perform.”

Handymen usually charge by the day or hour.

They’re often cheaper than a contractor, because most small projects don’t require multiple workers and usually don’t have much overhead cost.

Some states limit how much a contractor can do.

In California, a handyman can perform up to $500 of work, including parts and labor.

Because California doesn’t offer specific licensing for handymen, any handyman who wants

to surpass that limit must hold state licensing in the area of work he or she is doing.

For example, a handyperson who does a bathroom remodel with minor plumbing work and floor installation would have to hold both plumbing and flooring contractor licenses to charge more than $500 for that project.

The cost of a handyman project can range from $75 to $5,000 or more, depending on the scope, but many are as low as $50 to $400, according to member reports.

Tips for hiring

Before hiring, interview several candidates.

For handymen, pick one who you’re comfortable with, because you’ll be working closely with them around the house.

Be wary of any handyman or contractor who asks for full payment before doing any work.

Ask for a written agreement that details the job, the cost and the payment schedule, and make sure to get a guarantee in writing.

Do your homework when hiring a contractor, especially since you may

spend a lot of money on a project.

Home improvement experts say to get at least three bids. Because some contractors mark up the cost of materials, you may want to call the supplier to determine the cost of supplies to see if the contractor was reasonable.

Paying attention to how long it took the contractor to come up with the estimate is also important.

If he or she says they’ll get it to you Monday but you end up waiting until Thursday, that could be a reflection of how they’ll perform the job.

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Kidd: Watering prevents soil cracking Continued from 2

n Winter watering is advised for late-planted perennials, bare-root plants and perennials in windy or southwest exposures. n Watering helps prevent soil cracking, which allows cold and dry air to damage underground parts.

Long-term effects

Woody plants with shallow root systems can be

affected more than other plants. These may include European, white and paper birches; Norway, silver, red, Rocky Mountain and hybrid maples; lindens; alder; hornbeams; dogwood; willows; and mountain ash.

Evergreen plants that would benefit from winter watering are spruce, fir, arborvitae, yew, Oregon grape-holly, boxwood and Manhattan euonymus.

Affected plants may appear normal when they leaf out in the spring, but

the weakening may cause all or part of the plant to die in late spring or summer when temperatures rise. The plant may appear wilted or scorched, and some defoliation may occur. Weakened plants also may be subject to secondary problems of insects and disease.

Secondary drought symptoms may not be visible for several years, making it difficult to connect the event with the damage.

Drought damage is irre-

versible, but it can be minimized if we all do our parts by watering our plants and using an organic mulch to preserve moisture.

Food for thought: I called for help for my poor TV reception and was told to water my satellite dish.

What?

The ground around it had receded with the drought and was allowing the dish to move in the wind, thus interrupting the signal. I watered it, and all is well.

Tip of the week: Uses for baking soda

Baking soda is an inexpensive, easy-to-find product that has many uses. Here are a few of them: n Get the onion smell from your hands. Sprinkle baking soda over your hands after you’ve cut up an onion. Dampen with water and scrub your hands, then wash powder from your hands. n Use it to clean baby and toddler toys. Fill a sink with warm water and add 1/8 cup of baking soda. Wash and rinse the toys. n Keep your shoes smelling fresh. Sprinkle a little baking soda inside shoes to keep them fresh and odor-free. n Stop the rabbits. Sprinkle a little baking soda around your garden or your flowerbeds to prevent rabbits from entering and eating all your plants and flowers. n Keep flowers fresh. The next time you get fresh flowers, add a teaspoon of baking soda into the vase with the water to keep your flowers fresh longer. n Remove water rings. Make a paste of baking soda and water and scrub onto water rings on wooden tables. It will take them right off.

Source: momsneedtoknow.com

6 | Saturday, January 21, 2017 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com

Gray-beige

Shades popular for home decorating Trends for 2017 also embrace darker tones

By Whitney Carnahan

Special to The Capital-Journal

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Shades of greige — a mix of gray and beige — are popular for home decorating in the Topeka area. It’s expected that darker colors for walls and accents also will be a trend in 2017.

When it comes to home decorating, it’s fun to look at furniture and home magazines and see the new color trends for the coming year. In reality, the “trends” in our homes are determined more by personal preference and function, such as grandma’s handed-down quilt or a coffee table sturdy enough to handle family use.

However, new ideas and updates can still be incorporated into your home.

For instance, if you’re thinking of painting a room in your house, likely you’ve come across shades of paint in “greige” on Pinterest or in the paint store.

The gray-beige slate of colors has been hugely popu-

lar in past years, and this year, they come with variations of muted colors.

Karen Ingenthron, designer at Allied Paints, 2818 S.W. Gage Blvd., says the most popular color she has is Revere Pewter.

“Seriously, we have people come in the door, and the first words they say are, ‘I saw this color on Pinterest,’ and I already know what it is,” Ingenthron said. “It’s just a great color.

It absolutely goes with everything. It’s a warm gray, and it’s fairly light, and it’s good with charcoals and navy blues.”

The Benjamin Moore forecast for 2017 includes its color of the year: a graypurple shade called Shadow.

SHADES continues on 7

Add touch of gold for new year glam Yellow tones add stylish accent too

By Cathy Hobbs

Tribune News Service

Every now and then, every home can benefit from a bit of glam. Enter gold.

Once the finish of choice in the ’80s, it fell out of favor in the ’90s, often considered to be gaudy. Now, gold dominates the shelves of home decor retailers and remains one of the hottest finishes for accessories and accents.

Here are some tips for incorporating gold into

your home: n Use gold as a finish for fixtures such as faucets or cabinet and door handles. n Yellow and yellowbased tones can be used to include gold and gold accents. n Bookshelves are great opportunities to incorporate interesting accents. n Accessories such as decorative elements can be used to incorporate gold accents. n Don’t be afraid to mix different shades of gold in

a space. n Reflective elements such as gold mirrors can add an instant touch of glam. n Use gold when looking for opportunities to create a bold design statement. n Consider color mapping — a technique in which you can repeat gold accents throughout a space to help make the space feel connected and cohesive. n Incorporate lighting that accents gold tones. n Add gold to an accent wall.

tribune news service

Pops of yellow provide golden accents in this contemporary-looking living space.

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Don’t toss poinsettias out

By Dean Fosdick The Associated Press

dean fosdick/THE associated press

Many people toss out poinsettias with the Christmas tree after the holiday, but the popular plant can be re-colored.

Poinsettias have become the best-selling potted plants in the United States, and are second in popularity only to Christmas trees during the holiday season. Unfortunately, they also are among the least understood.

They are not annuals.

They can be restored to provide cheer for many more holidays, although it takes some work to make them color up again.

“Poinsettias can be reflowered for years,” said Thomas Ford, a commercial horticulture instructor with Penn State Exten-

sion. “One former client I worked with in Maryland flowered his one poinsettia for over 10 years. It grew so large that he used his dining room as the display area for it.”

Whether that kind of dedication is worth it, though, is an altogether different thing.

“I would say that the average consumer does not see any merit in keeping it for several years,” Ford said. “Overall, it is too time-consuming.”

Here’s a generally accepted seasonal timeline for re-coloring poinsettias: n Keep temperatures between 60 and 70 de-

grees from December to February. Let the plants get as much sunlight as possible. Water them regularly. n In March or April, as the bracts age and turn a muddy green, cut the stems back to about 8 inches high.

“Around July 4th, cut branches back again about half their length to encourage bushy plants,” said Peter Warren, horticulture agent with University of Arizona Cooperative Extension. n From mid- to late October, the plants must be kept in complete darkness for 14 continuous hours each night.

“This can be done by moving the plant to a dark room or placing a box over it,” Warren said.

“During this period, the plant requires six to eight hours of bright sunlight and night temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees. This regimen must continue for eight to 10 weeks in order for the plant to develop colorful bracts for the holiday season.” n The bracts should be developing some color by mid-November. n In early December, bract coloration should be almost complete and the plant can be restored to everyday light.

Shades: ‘It’s the really warm greige tones that are popular’ Continued from 6

“The other colors we are seeing a lot of is what I consider the spa colors — the blue-gray and greens,” she said. “What we’re seeing is a lot of colors that have that gray in them. I think the trend just seems to be comfortable colors.”

Ingenthron says the forecast for 2017 includes several darker colors.

“We have one called Dinner Party,” she said.

“It’s a red, but a dark red with a lot of gray-blue tones in it. They are rich and royal colors. It’s that more romantic era. An ‘old master palette’ is what they’re calling it.”

Amy Gwaltney, assistant manager at Sherwin-Williams in Topeka, agrees and says SherwinWilliams’ customers are using the darker colors as accents.

“Accent walls are definitely still a thing, but they are going to be in muted colors,” Gwaltney said.

“There are a lot of people that are doing the darker contrasting walls, but the opposite and adjacent walls will have the lighter colors so it doesn’t look too closed off.

“It’s the really warm greige tones that are popular. At our store, a lot of the colors people are choosing are greens, like a bluegreen, for their kitchens and bathrooms.”

Wall coverings

Faux finishes have gone by the wayside, Gwaltney adds.

“With the whole rustic, recycling idea, a lot of people have started doing the wood pallet walls. A lot of those walls are being done by our contractors, and lot

of them are usually stained in a few different colors,” she said.

With the advent of accent walls, some have moved toward using wallpaper. However, this isn’t the wallpaper of yesteryear. Today, Ingenthron says, many companies are selling easy-to-remove wallpapers.

“We’re seeing it used as an accent rather than an all-over,” she said. “The reason for that is, when you see an accent wall anymore, it’s a tall, tall wall.

The new homes seem to have taller walls, so if you don’t do something on that like a wallpaper, it’s a big blank space.

“The new patterns are huge. They are just beautiful. There is a lot of geometric, but there are also cleaner florals, more contemporary patterns.

The lines are cleaner, but

beautiful. We have a lot of samples.”

Bolder fabrics

When thinking of making a change to the interior, it’s natural to move from the walls to the furnishings that make up the room. In the past few years, similar to the richer hues of paint colors, richer fabrics have come to the fore, including tufted velvet, leather and tweed. An emphasis also has been placed on comfort.

However, furniture is a serious investment, which is why neutrals have been so popular in the past and accent pieces, such as pillows, throws, side tables and lamps, have been the spotlight in terms of color, pattern and interest.

Now, sofas and chairs are becoming the stars of the show.

“For a long time, it was earth tones and neutral colors,” said Ryan Tatum, sales manager for Feldkamp’s Furniture, 3333 S. Kansas Ave. “Now, I think we’re starting to see more patterns and colors come back into play. From there, it depends. It’s different with everyone who walks in the door. That’s why we have to have something for everyone.”

Contrasting colors

If you plan to make changes to the exterior of the home — in paint or siding — choose three colors.

The first color is for the body or main part of the house. The second color is for the trim, and the third is for accents, such as doors.

In these areas, trends are much slower.

“We are seeing accents

of these darker colors — that’s usually what we’d call the third color, the front door. We’re still seeing grays, tans in exterior colors,” Ingenthron said.

Gwaltney agrees.

“So far this year, a lot of people are wanting to do darker exteriors with lighter trim — dark charcoal with an off-white, so a sharp contrast,” she said. “The new homes have those dark and greige tones.”

So, greige takes the race for this coming year’s paint color scheme, perfect for interior and the exterior.

However, it’s clear that, in the end, personal preference wins the day.

“Individual taste is really something that I think is important,” Ingenthron said. “You should decorate according to your personal comfort zone.”

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Freezing temps may cause burst pipes

By Craig Sailor

The (Tacoma, Wash.) News Tribune

It’s hard to tell what’s going to burst on the scene in 2017. Let’s hope it’s not your pipes.

As water turns into ice, it expands. It has no choice. It’s just obeying the laws of physics. But when ice runs out of room, like say in a closed pipe, it bursts out. Even metal pipes will succumb if the pressure is great enough.

Often, the problem isn’t noticed until the pipes thaw and water begins to flow again.

Underground pipes rarely have freezing problems because the earth acts as insulator. And pipes inside heated homes are usually not a problem either.

It’s that in-between zone, when pipes leave the ground but before they enter a

heated space, where bursting is most likely to occur.

Prevention is key, said plumber Jason Hunt, owner of Hunt Services of Tacoma, Wash.

“There’s nothing a plumber can do with a frozen pipe,” said Hunt, who’s been in the business for 23 years.

But many of Hunt’s clients don’t know at first that they have a burst pipe.

“It’s typically after the cold is over, when they thaw out,” he said.

If a homeowner is unfamiliar with their plumbing system, doesn’t know where the main water valve is and other essentials, Hunt suggests calling a plumber for a preventive inspection. Even with the clock ticking and the thermometer plummeting, PIPES continues on 10

Service Directory

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Pipes: Bursting most likely to occur where pipes are unheated Continued from 8

there’s still time for a homeowner to take action.

First, look for lines running into your home and in unheated spaces: attics, crawl spaces, garages, sheds, uninsulated walls.

Wrap exposed pipes in foam insulation. Home improvement stores sell the material already shaped for pipes. Zip ties can help.

Outdoor water faucets should be winterized: Disconnect hoses, shroud faucets with a foam cover. New faucets are designed to drain themselves, Hunt said. But if a hose is attached, that safeguard might be thwarted.

If you have an auxiliary system, like for a garden, turn the water off at its source and then drain the line.

If you think your entire

system is vulnerable to freezing, try keeping a faucet trickling with a steady stream, Hunt said. Moving water takes longer to freeze than still water.

Home improvement stores sell electric heating cables or “tape” that can be wrapped around pipes.

“Wrap heat tape around it first, and then you can insulate it over that,” Hunt said.

“You’ll never have a prob-

lem with that.”

Unless the power goes off.

Inside your home you may want to consider leaving cabinet doors open that shield cold pipes, like below a kitchen or bathroom sink that is located against an exterior wall.

Any structure that isn’t occupied, like a vacation home or shed, should have its water shut off and lines

drained. An empty pipe won’t burst.

If you do suffer a broken pipe, you’ll have company.

“Water damage is our No. 1 cause of loss, resulting in tens of millions of dollars in damage annually,” said Pemco Insurance spokesman Derek Wing.

For the last several years, water losses accounted for more than a third of property claims at Pemco, beat-

ing out fire, wind/weather and theft.

Though a hidden pipe may escape a homeowner’s notice, water damage is usually preventable. While insurance may cover the damage, it won’t alleviate the inconvenience.

“It’s about the hassle,” Wing said. “Nobody wants to start off the new year by calling a plumber with an emergency.”

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