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Decked-out deck

Saturday, November 5, 2016 An advertising feature of The Topeka Capital-Journal

Lake Sherwood couple upscales, expands outdoor area, page 6. n n n n

Jamie Kidd on amaryllis bulbs, page 2 Grow greens in winter with coldframe, page 4 De-clutter to encourage creativity, page 8 Aluminum best for storm doors, page 9

homes.cjonline.com REX WOLF/THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

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Amaryllis bulbs can last you for decades The amaryllis is a tender bulb that is ready to bloom when purchased.

It was discovered in 1828

by Eduard Frederich Poeppig, a young physician from Leipzig, on a plant hunting expedition in Chile. It is nicknamed “Horse Star” because of its enormous bloom size. The genus name for this plant is Hippeastrum. Hippo in Greek means horse, and astrum means star. The blooms can range from 8 to 10 inches across. They, characteristically, have petal colorations that resemble the shape of a star.

In the language of flowers, Amaryllis means splendid beauty or pride. If cared for properly, amaryllis bulbs will last for decades!

The large local retail

Jamie KiDD

jamiehan@ksu.edu

stores along with several of our local nurseries, grocery stores and florist shops carry amaryllis bulbs that are already potted in decorative containers. They make wonderful living gifts for family, friends and coworkers. Bulbs can also be purchased individually, and you can plant them in special containers of your choosing. The larger the bulb is, the larger the

flower. Some bulbs are as large as a grapefruit!

If you are planting them yourself, remember that amaryllis bulbs like a “tight fit.” Use a pot only 1 to 2 inches larger than the bulb. About one-half to two-thirds of the bulb should remain exposed when potted. Hold the bulb so the roots hang down into the pot, and add potting mix. Firm the mix around the roots carefully so that they are not snapped off. Water thoroughly and place the plant in a warm, sunny location. Keep the soil slightly moist until flowering. When flowering begins, increase watering frequency. According to Ward Upham, a Kansas State horticultural special-

ist, amaryllis like daytime temperatures in the 70s and night temperatures in the 60s.

The flower bud may start to appear right away or the plant may remain dormant for a period of time, but eventually all mature bulbs do bloom.

The bulb will push out a stalk that will grow from 1 to 2 feet tall. Staking may be required if it is a tall variety. Buds will begin to appear on the stalks; some as many as three to six blooms per stalk. When the flower buds begin to show color move the plants to a cooler location and out of direct sunlight. The flowers will last longer. Often, a second flower stalk follows the first at about the time the

flowers on the first stem fade. The leaves usually start to appear when the flowers begin to open. The main blooming season is September to April. Amaryllis can remain in bloom for about a month.

When the flowers have faded, cut off the spent blooms to prevent the plant from putting energy into making seeds instead of storing energy for next year’s flower display.

Place the plant back in a sunny location until it is warm enough to be placed outside.

In spring, when the nighttime temperature gets above 50 degrees, plant the bulbs outside (or sink the pot into the soil). Plant them in an eastern flowerbed or under the light

shade of a shrub to keep the leaves from burning.

Let them grow through the summer and fertilize them regularly to build up the food reserves in the bulb. The amount of leaf growth and food storage will determine the size and quality of the blooms the following season.

In October (or in our case this year, November maybe December), just before the first frost, bring the potted bulb back inside, place in a dark location for at least two months. Withhold all water so the leaves dry up completely. Then trim the foliage to 1 to 2 inches above the bulb. If you want to force the blooms

KIDD continues on 5C

homes.cjonline.com | The Topeka Capital-Journal | Saturday, November 5, 2016 | 3

Use bright colors in child’s room Don’t overcrowd space with toys, furniture when designing kid’s bedroom

By Cathy Hobbs Tribune News Service

Children’s bedrooms serve as a great opportunity to infuse color, light and creativity into the home. In addition to incorporating a child’s wish list and desired colors and other elements, a child’s bedroom is also a chance to tell a design story.

When it comes to creating the ideal children’s room, here are my top Design Recipes tips.

Do’s: n Have fun with your decor. There is nothing sadder than a bland children’s bedroom. n Consider gender-neutral colors. Colors such as

orange, yellow, green and even red are fabulous gender-neutral accent colors. n Incorporate a child’s favorite things.

Don’ts: n Be afraid to use muted colors as a foundation color. n Overcrowd a space with too many furniture pieces or toys. n Be afraid to go bold, mixing color, texture and pattern.

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.

Layers of bright colors make this children’s room shine.

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

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Coldframe allows greens to grow in winter Construct a heat trap for plants using bottomless box with clear plastic, glass cover

By Lee Reich The Associated Press

In one weekend, you could effectively move your garden — or at least part of it — a few hundred miles south.

If you’re handy, you could do it in less than a day.

Do this by building a coldframe — a bottomless box with a clear plastic or glass cover.

Heat trapped in a coldframe keeps lettuce, spinach and other hardy salad greens fresh and growing throughout winter. This warmed area also can provide a winter home for rooted cuttings and perennials that aren’t quite cold-hardy. In the coldframe, plants might

grow right in the ground or in containers.

Next spring, use the coldframe to start or harden off seedlings or for earlier vegetables or flowers. The sun’s warmth, trapped within a coldframe, keeps the box warmer later into fall and in winter, then advances the season there in spring.

Build it

Select some sort of clear covering for a coldframe first, because the rest of the structure will be built to accommodate its size. Typical dimensions are some multiple of about 2 by 5 feet.

An old window sash is often available for free, is al-

ready mounted in a wooden frame, and is conveniently sized for single or multiple use.

Various kinds of plastic are another option. Plastic has the advantage of being less breakable than glass, and it can be cut with standard woodworking tools.

Make rectangular frames from 1-by-2 or 2-by-2 wood, glued, braced and screwed at the corners. Either screw the plastic to the frame or create grooves into which the plastic can slide.

Polycarbonate plastic is an especially good choice.

It resists degradation in sunlight, so is often used for greenhouses, and comes in double wall to increase its

ability to hold in heat.

To capture the most sunlight and let rainfall run off, the top of the coldframe should slope down from the back to the front. Create this sloping box in two sections, using 1-by-12 or 2-by12 lumber.

For the lower section, merely join the lumber in a rectangle that corresponds to the dimensions of the cover(s). Rot-resistant lumber lasts longest, but any lumber can be used if you screw a sacrificial 2-inch strip of wood onto all the edges that will make ground contact. Unscrew and replace this strip when it rots

COLDFRAME continues on 7

LEE REICH VIA THE ASSOCIATE PRESS

Seedlings can keep warm and cozy even in cold weather when the bi-fold cover of this coldframe is closed to capture and hold the sun’s warmth.

homes.cjonline.com | The Topeka Capital-Journal | Saturday, November 5, 2016 | 5

Kidd: Bulbs will Don’t skimp on homeowners insurance flower within years

By Staci Giordullo Angie’s List

Continued from 2C for Christmas or another special occasion begin watering the bulb 4 to 6 weeks prior to the desired date.

If the timing of the blooms is not an issue, let the plant grow in a cool, 55-degree location. It is not necessary for the plant to go dormant, and it will likely bloom in the late winter or early spring the following year.

Amaryllis can live in the

same pot for several years so no need to transplant it yearly. But, when you do transplant it, pick a pot 1 to 2 inches larger than the bulb. Offsets (babies) are normally produced around the bulb and can be given their own pots if you so desire. They will grow quickly and can be mature enough to flower in a couple years.

Jamie Kidd is a horticulturist with Kansas State Research and Extension in Shawnee County.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to save a buck or two where you can, but scrimping on your homeowners insurance premium might not be the best idea.

“A lot of times, clients are so focused on price that they don’t understand what they have given up in return for the lower premium,” says Justin Ross, owner of Goosehead Insurance in Coral Springs, Fla. “Then when a claim happens, they’re often disappointed with the outcome. This is why I find it so important to take some time with each client to properly

set their expectations.” n How much is homeowners insurance?

According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the national average premium is $1,095 a year. Homeowners in Florida pay the most, on average, at $2,094 a year, while homeowners in Idaho pay the least, at $561.

The price of homeowners insurance is partly based on the cost to rebuild the structure, not the price you paid for your house. For example, if you paid $1 million for a 1,500-square-foot house, your premium may only be $650. Whereas a 4,000square-foot house purchased

for $500,000 may require a $1,200 premium to insure.

Of course, include coverage on your home’s contents, liability and a possible umbrella policy, your total annual cost will increase.

Other factors that determine the cost of your premium include: size and age of the home, past claims history and whether it has a security system and fire sprinklers.

Purchasing multiple policies with the same carrier sometimes reduces the price.

It’s important to remember when comparing average premiums that it’s an imperfect measure of the relative “price” of insurance due to wide variations in hazards,

economic conditions and real estate values from state to state. Even when comparing identical policy forms and amounts of insurance, premiums for homeowners coverage can differ dramatically across the country. n How much is an insurance deductible?

Your insurance deductible represents a shared risk between you and the insurance company and can be either a specific dollar amount or a percentage of the total amount of insurance on a policy. Regardless, the deductible is your out-of-pocket expense on every claim, and most range between $500 and $1,500.

6 | Saturday, November 5, 2016 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com

Home Improvement

Deck has outdoor feel, indoor comforts Remote-controlled shades give privacy on renovated Lake Sherwood deck

By Jan Biles jan.biles@cjonline.com

Carolyn and Paul Rebek realized the deck on the south side of their Lake Sherwood home was deteriorating badly and needed to be replaced.

It was an opportunity for the couple to consider how they could update and expand the outdoor area.

“We decided we wanted a screened-in porch,” Carolyn Rebek said. “We love Lake Sherwood and like being in the outdoors, but we don’t like the bugs.”

After obtaining several bids for the deck project, the Rebeks signed on with Topeka-based Winston Brown Construction.

“From the minute (company owner) Jake Brown walked in our door, he was honest, professional and met our standard for integrity,” she said. “Jake Brown worked within our budget and never suggested something we couldn’t afford.”

The Rebeks decided to build a 288-square-foot, screened-in deck with electronic solar shades, according to information supplied by Winston Brown Construction.

“The solar shades are remote-controlled,” Rebek said. “They help with the sun and give us privacy.”

The deck has a 12-foothigh vaulted ceiling. A remote-controlled ceiling fan with blades shaped like palm leaves, and custommade light fixtures hang from the ceiling. Recessed lights are controlled by a dimmer switch, and various sizes of glass lanterns can be illuminated by remote-controlled candles.

Carolyn and Paul Rebek decided to replace the aging deck on their Lake Sherwood home with a screened-in version where they could watch TV and relax without having to worry about being pestered by mosquitoes and other bugs.

Matching metals tables with African-themed pillows can be seen both on the uncovered and screened-in portions.

REX WOLF/THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

The blades of the ceiling fan that hangs from the vaulted ceiling of the screened-in deck are fashioned after palm leaves.

The Rebeks decided to extend the deck with a 216square-foot open area that could be used for barbecuing and storing firewood.

Rebek said Topeka resident Judy Stone helped her decorate the deck to reflect the Rebeks’ travels to Africa. Love seats, chairs, an

ottoman and other furniture are tied together by their safari tones. Animalprint fabrics cover pillows.

A giraffe sculpture is dis-

played on a small metal table, and elephant and alligator sculptures serve as the bases for end tables.

A flat-screen television in mounted to a partition custom-built in the enclosed deck.

Matching table-andchair sets are positioned in the screened-in and the open area of the deck. Colorful rugs cover the floors.

According to Winston Brown, the deck project took about 12 weeks to complete. In addition to the deck renovation and expansion, the Rebeks also decided to have the construction company install new concrete siding on their home.

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

homes.cjonline.com | The Topeka Capital-Journal | Saturday, November 5, 2016 | 7

Christmas decor

Greenery, lights create festive scene

By Mary Carol Garrity Tribune News Service

I have something shocking to tell you: Christmas is seven weeks away.

But to us, it feels like it’s just around the corner. We are filling our Nell Hill’s store with one lush and lavish display after another, creating a winter wonderland that delights all the senses.

To celebrate, we’re doing the holidays up big, big, big. We’re starting with a series of holiday decorating blogs, where my team and I will share inspiration and ideas for making your own home merry and bright for the season. First up? Holiday mantel decorating tips from Bruce, our marketing and visual manager.

Continued from 4 away.

For the upper part of the box, cut another 12-inch-wide board the same length as either of the sides. With a straightedge, draw a diagonal line from one corner to another, then cut along this line. For the upper back of the box, cut a board to the same length as the bottom back of the box.

Screw the three pieces together.

Attach the upper part of the box to the lower part with 2-by-2 lumber, two 22-inch lengths and two 11-inch lengths, screwed into the corners.

These 2-by-2s also strengthen the coldframe.

Cover it

Blue Christmas

I’m pretty crazy about anything that’s blue and white. But blue and white pottery, in particular, makes my heart hammer hard. So we created a holiday treatment on a mantel that’s an ode to my lifelong color crush.

Our focal points are classic urns that feature a fresh, contemporary vine pattern. Since dramatic mantel displays have a variation in height, we flanked the urns with a pair of boxwood topiary.

Bruce likes to include some element of light in his holiday mantel displays, whether it’s a strand of lights or a single candle, so he added a beautiful etched-glass hurricane lamp in the center.

Styling tip: “Fit your holiday decor to your room, not the other way around,” Bruce advised.

Coldframe: Covers can be free of hinges if not windy

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

The focal points in this mantel design are classic urns that feature a fresh, contemporary vine pattern.

What colors are featured predominantly in your home? Use that palette to inspire your seasonal displays, so your holiday decor doesn’t clash with the rest of your home.

My favorite mantel displays include layers of greenery. For the mantel, the base layer can be a classic evergreen garland, swaged in the center and cascading off each end. Next, add a host of picks and ribbon to give the mantel a full, rich, finished look. While we stayed within a tight bouquet of colors — blue, white and green — the overall display is beguiling because of all the different textures and finishes, from the glistening

lime green berries to the frosty white leaves.

Styling tip: Make sure your greens don’t go crashing to the floor, taking all your pretty breakable accents with them.

To keep that from happening, we anchor our heavy greenery displays to the wall.

We place screws on the right and left side of the mantel, where it meets the wall, then use florist wire to secure the garland to the screws. To keep the breakable ornaments from falling, we cinch them to the greenery using plastic zip ties.

Merry and bright

One of our rooms, with its peony-colored ceil-

ing, is the place we get to experiment with bright, bold, saturated color.

When designing mantel displays, Bruce creates a visual pyramid that draws the eye to the center of the mantel. In an asymmetrical display, a towering glass candlestick is our apex. A footed bowl filled with ornaments and an etched-glass hurricane follow the visual lines, repeating the sparkle of the dazzling garland treatment.

The rope of garland dips dramatically at the mantel’s center, then finishes with a flourish on each side. We transformed the traditional evergreen garland, amping it up just by weaving in splashy white

leaf picks. To finish, we picked out a rainbow of super fun, oversized tree ornaments in a variety of shapes. Some are wired snug to the garland, while others dangle below, adding to the whimsy of the mantel.

Styling tip: Decide on one look for your holiday displays, then repeat it throughout your home.

“Your mantel should reflect your tree, should reflect your table setting, and so on,” Bruce advised. “Then, all of a sudden, it’s a great beautiful story that envelops your home.”

This column was adapted from Mary Carol Garrity’s blog at www. nellhills.com. She can be reached at marycarol@nellhills.com.

Usually, covers are hinged to the base at the rear, making them easy to prop up to varying degrees, depending on sunlight and temperature.

Another option is to hinge adjacent covers together side by side, and then hinge one of the sides to the edge of the base. This cover opens and closes like a bi-fold door, with its free edge resting on the base to prop it open.

If the area isn’t too windy, covers could be free of hinges, merely sliding up and down on the base frame.

Use it

The covering will have to be opened on bright sunny days, sometimes even in winter and surely as the sun grows stronger in spring.

One piece of scrap board, cut 12 inches long by 6 inches wide, per covered section makes a convenient prop. Use the flat side — about an inch thick — to crack the one or more covers open for slight venting. Progress to the 6-inch dimension and then the 12-inch one when more venting is needed as spring approaches.

A coldframe adds a useful and interesting dimension to your gardening. Monitor and adjust temperatures, water and fertility closely, and watch how your plants respond.

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Encourage creativity by de-cluttering crafting nook

By Jennifer Forker The Associated Press

For crafters, de-cluttering and rethinking a creative workspace might reap benefits beyond just finding the right paintbrush more quickly.

For some, it can spark creativity.

“It’s different for everyone, but it’s superpsychological,” said professional organizer Fay Wolf, of Los Angeles. “(De-cluttering) creates space for the things you love and makes them ready to use at a moment’s notice.”

“People think structure is bad, but I think rules are great. They give you this framework so you

have control.”

A few years ago, Wolf set up her piano keyboard in a spare closet at home and found she began using it more. And writing music. And singing.

Songwriting “became the primary creative thing in my life, and all because I set up the keyboard. I gave it its own place,” she said.

Wolf shares tips for getting rid of stuff, including art supplies from long-ago craft projects, in “New Order: A Decluttering Handbook for Creative Folks (And Everyone Else)” (Ballantine Books, 2016). She sets up a staging area with labeled sorting bins and warns against letting

perfectionism prevent progress.

“What plagues many of us is the ‘waiting for the perfect moment,’ ” which leads to doing nothing, Wolf says in her book.

“Ditch the excuses and start with any amount of time.”

Wolf recommends using a timer, which many cell phones have. Set it for 20 minutes; you’ll be amazed what you can accomplish in that small amount of focused time.

“You have to be OK taking small steps and knowing that’s the only way to do it,” she said, adding that it might take five such sessions before a crafting room starts to change.

GETTING RID OF INK STAINS In the past, you used hairspray to get out ballpoint-ink stains. But ink formulations, fabrics and hairspray ingredients have changed, so today rubbing alcohol is recommended. To get rid of ballpoint ink from clothing you launder, place the garment on a towel stain-side down. Lightly dampen a cloth with rubbing alcohol and gently dab (don’t rub) the stain.

SOURCE: WWW.HELOISE.COM/

Service Directory

homes.cjonline.com | The Topeka Capital-Journal | Saturday, November 5, 2016 | 9

Aluminum still best for storm doors

By Cynthia Wilson Angie’s List

Homeowners typically buy a storm door to protect their front door from weather damage and make their homes more energyefficient. But storm doors also can provide extra security and boost your home’s curb appeal, says Ryon Oates, owner of The Door Guys in Crosby, Texas.

“If it swings out, it protects the door from getting kicked in,” Oates said.

If you’re in the market for a storm door, know that aluminum is the preferred material. Most manufacturers choose aluminum as the frame for storm doors because it’s stronger, more weather-resistant and easier to install.

While you might buy an aluminum door with a wood core, Ron Koralewski, a salesman for the Joe Wilde Company in New Berlin, Wis., says aluminum is the better investment.

“Aluminum is thicker

PELLA WINDOWS AND DOORS

Strive for style and protection when adding a storm door to your entryway. and more rigid. Wood has some flex to it,” he said.

Aluminum doors also are sold in various degrees of thickness. The thicker the aluminum door, the sturdier it is, Koralewski says.

After you choose the

door’s color, hardware and thickness, you’ll need to decide what kind of view and venting you want. Here are some options: n Full- or partial-view storm door.

A full-view storm door

is dominated by glass and encased in an aluminum frame. Full-view storm doors provide more light and a better view of the outdoors without opening the door. It also allows you to protect your elaborate

wooden front door, while also showing off its features.

You can buy full-view storm doors with interchangeable glass and screen panels to keep insects out.

You won’t get as much natural light or view with a half- or three-quarter-view storm door. However, some manufacturers will install a pet door in the bottom half of the door. n Let fresh air in; keep bugs out.

The view you choose for your storm door affects your ventilation options.

For example, you may need to remove the panel in a full-view storm door and insert a screen for fresh air when it’s closed. But some manufacturers make fullview storm doors with retractable screens.

“Within a matter of seconds, you can pull it down and the screen can be exposed,” Koralewski said.

The biggest drawback to doors with retractable screens is the casing that

holds the retractable screen interrupts the seamless glass look. On the other hand, a partial-view storm door allows you to slide the glass or screen into the door when not in use. n Storm door glass can boost energy efficiency or block heat.

Like replacement windows, you can choose the type of glass you want in your storm door. Consider sun-blocking glass to protect your main entry door from fading or warping if your front door faces the sun most of the day. If you want a full-view door but don’t want to sacrifice insulation, buy a storm door with low-E glass. n Cost of storm doors.

The cheapest storm doors cost about $180. You can spend upward of $1,200 for a storm door if you want additional security features.

Oates says you can purchase a quality storm door for about $350, the cost of which doesn’t include installation.

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