At Home Living 111216

‘Tis the season

Holiday homes

Saturday, November 12, 2016 An advertising feature of The Topeka Capital-Journal

Topekans open doors to benefit CASA, page 6 n Jamie Kidd on black walnuts, page 2 n Ivan Weichert on remodeling trend, page 5 n DIY pet beds, page 10 n Winterizing your power tools, page 10

home.cjonline.com REX WOLF/SPECIAL TO THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

2 | Saturday, November 12, 2016 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com

Black walnuts producing bumper crop Black walnut trees are stealing the show this fall. There seems to be an abundant crop for many tree owners. The squirrels are having a heyday knocking walnuts to the ground and scurrying them away for winter.

A friend told me he sat listening as squirrels hurled nuts onto the top of an aluminum panel truck.

It made a strange kind of music. Others were actually rolling them down a drain spout and onto the lawn. (I wonder if they play miniature golf?) Last fall was conducive to good bud formation, and the lack of late frosts this past spring allowed for this abundant fortune. Next year’s crop will likely be smaller because of the

JAMIE KIDD

jamiehan@ksu.edu

extra exertion.

When a friend mentioned he and his wife had conservatively picked up more than 5,000 walnuts in their backyard, I asked him to bring me some, which he gladly did. A nice bag of walnuts in green husks showed up in my office. I quickly dug in and began peeling off a husk eager to get to the hard-shelled nut inside. I forgot one thing: Walnut

juice stains. I now have three fingers and two fingernails that look like I have spent a week in a tanning bed.

Black walnut meats are much more flavorful than English walnuts, so I know many of you would probably like to know how best to harvest them and avoid paying the high prices in stores.

Harvest

Black walnuts should be allowed to ripen on the tree. Nuts that are too difficult to reach can be collected once they fall to the ground. Staying ahead of the squirrels will be the task of the day.

The husks change from solid green to yellowish

green. Often, the husks of mature nuts have dried and cracked. Ripe nuts will show an indentation in the skin of the husk when pressed with your thumb. Walnuts ripen over a four- to six-week period, so weekly monitoring is important.

Husk removal

Removing husks is an essential step in storing black walnuts. If the nuts are stored with husks attached, the heat released as the husks decompose will discolor walnut kernels and ruin their flavor.

Husk removal can be difficult and messy.

Walnut juice can stain skin, clothing, tools and work surfaces. Wear

gloves or use tongs when handling unhusked walnuts. Dry husks can be removed by applying pressure to the ends of the nut with a hammer. Use safety goggles for this.

“Husks can also be softened in a container filled with a slurry of 3 parts nuts to 1 part water and a handful of gravel,” according to University of Minnesota Extension. “Stir the mixture vigorously several times to remove the husks.”

A small cement mixer or corn sheller can work to remove husks, too.

Walnuts are a tough nut to crack, and people have been known to drive cars over the husks to remove them. The nuts or their shells can become danger-

ous projectiles.

Don’t compost walnut remains. All parts of the walnut tree contain a chemical called juglone.

It can have a toxic effect on many vegetable and landscape plants.

Curing

Wash the unshelled nuts after the husks have been removed. This is best done outside with a hose to prevent staining of your sink or counters.

Check for insect damage or undeveloped nut meats by pouring the unshelled nuts into a bucket of water.

The good ones sink; the bad ones float. Discard the bad ones.

KIDD continues on 3

homes.cjonline.com | The Topeka Capital-Journal | Saturday, November 12, 2016 | 3

Kidd: Nut meats should be stored at room temperature after being baked Continued from 2

Stack the clean hulled nuts in shallow layers, about two or three nuts deep. Place the nuts in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area out of direct sunlight for two weeks. Curing allows the walnut flavor to develop.

To be certain nuts have cured enough, crack open a sample nut. If the kernel breaks crisply with a sharp snap, it’s ready for storage.

in a well-ventilated area at 60 degrees or less. Ideally, humidity should be about 70 percent to prevent shells from cracking and kernels from spoiling.

Storage

Shelling

Store unshelled nuts in cloth bags or wire baskets

Soak walnuts in hot tap water for 24 hours to keep

kernels from shattering while shelling. Drain and replace the hot water, and soak for two more hours.

Cover the nuts with moist cloths until you’re ready to crack the shells.

Black walnut shells are very hard. Squeezing in a vise and prying with a screwdriver may be neces-

sary. Freezing for 72 hours will sometimes crack the shell.

Storing nut meats

Nut meats can be stored at room temperature for a few weeks if first baked at 215 degrees for 15 minutes.

Nut meats can be refrigerated in a jar or plastic

bag for up to nine months without baking. They also can be frozen, but use them within two years.

I’m looking forward to tasting my wonderful black walnut meats. I’m also thinking of spritzing myself with walnut juice in place of a spray tan. I am sure it would last longer.

C4 | Saturday, November 12, 2016 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com

homes.cjonline.com | The Topeka Capital-Journal | Saturday, November 12, 2016 | 5

More consumers remodeling, not buying Many area remodelers are being booked six to nine months before project

By Liz Montano

Special to The Capital-Journal

Instead of looking for a new house when a family outgrows or is tired of their current home, more Topeka homeowners are opting to remodel existing dwellings.

Ivan Weichert, president and CEO of the Topeka Home Builders Association, recently talked about the current remodeling trend and how it’s impacting contractors.

Q: Last month, you shared how there isn’t currently a strong homebuying market in Topeka. Why do you think more people are choosing the option of remodeling as opposed to buying new?

Weichert: I think some people in the market like their current neighborhoods or school districts. Since there may be no new home possibilities in their area, they make a Weichert decision to invest in their existing home.

Sometimes, that investment can be quite significant. We’ve seen contracts for $100,000 and $150,000, which in the past was pretty unusual. I think it’s more about choices for where they want to be instead of money. Remodeling’s more about lifestyle and location.

Q: How did it evolve that remodelers have become a driving force in the Topeka economy? Weichert: They’ve taken it upon themselves to become more active in the community. They’ve upped their game as far as their work, and many companies have stepped up their advertising. With more people choosing to stay in their current homes, there’s more need for remodeling.

The other thing contractors are doing is becoming more involved in the community (by) helping out underprivileged families.

choosing to remodel instead of buying new homes?

Weichert: I’m not sure there are specific numbers tracking that, but I can tell you the level of work they have in front of them.

Most area remodelers are six to nine months out in scheduling work. We’re not seeing that same level of activity in new home construction.

Given that and the number of people who are really qualified to do remodeling and how well they are doing, it speaks to the number of homeowners making those decisions.

Q: Are numbers available on how many people are

Q: Do you know what the wait time was be-

fore the remodeling trend usurped buying new homes?

Weichert: I’d say most were probably in the 30- to 60day range. But the jobs have gotten bigger so it takes more time. And when you have people saying “I’ll wait.” that’s pretty telling.

Q: What are the most popular remodeling jobs requested?

Weichert: A lot of kitchen and bath remodels, but there are also a lot of additions where people are adding square footage to their homes.

We’re also seeing more remodelers taking advantage of training offered by the National Associa-

tion of Home Builders to receive master remodeler certifications and certified remodeler certifications. It requires quite a bit of time and effort to go through those courses, and that’s happening more with remodelers than with builders or any other trades that we’re aware of.

Q: Are contractors losing money because of the changing trends, or are they just having to adjust their business models to go along with the current trends?

Weichert: Many of the qualified remodeling companies concentrate solely REMODELING continues on 8

6 | Saturday, November 12, 2016 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com

LET IT SHOW

christmas tidings

Festive homes open doors for CASA annual fundraiser

Pears and oranges decorated with cloves adorn Christmas trees in the Porterfield-Glaze home.

By Shanna Sloyer

Special to The Capital-Journal

A 1909 Steinway piano, Western art and a grand champion dalmatian meld together in an elegant holiday display at the Westboro home of David Woods and Ted Yungclas.

Decorated by Porterfield’s Flowers & Gifts as part of the 29th Annual CASA Homes for the Holidays Tour on Nov. 19-20, the design concept fuses Woods’ and Yungclas’ lives of academia with an earthy color palette of greens, browns and grays.

“We talked about it a lot, and we thought a more natural style fit the things they had in the majority of the house,” said David Porterfield, owner of Porterfield’s.

Woods, dean emeritus at the University of Connecticut, devoted his career to music education, which is reflected in an assortment of handmade and antique musical instruments.

Yungclas is the executive assistant to the CEO of the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library. Their home features a library that boasts an extensive collection of books, as well as more than 350 Hopi kachina figures and other American Indian art pieces.

The CASA Homes for the Holidays Tour, which features five homes, benefits Court Appointed Special Advocates of Shawnee County, an organization that trains and utilizes volHOME continues on 7

rex wolf/special to THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

David Porterfield and Lee Glaze, who share their home with Cavalier King Charles spaniels Stuart and Henry, used reds and gold to create an old Christmas feel. The front living room holds two Christmas trees adorned with golden spheres, apples, pears and oranges with cloves and lit with flickering electric candles.

homes.cjonline.com | The Topeka Capital-Journal | Saturday, November 12, 2016 | 7

Home: Dog honored by decor Continued from 6

PHOTOGRAPHS BY REX WOLF/SPECIAL TO THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

Dalmatians take center stage in a tree display in the basement and master bathroom at the David Woods and Ted Yungclas home.

CASA HOMES FOR THE HOLIDAY TOUR What: A tour featuring the following homes and designers: n Cedar Crest/Governor’s Residence, 1 S.W. Cedar Crest Road. Designer: Jesse Borjon, of Red Door Home Store n David Woods and Ted Yungclas, 1334 S.W. Lakeside Drive. Designer: David Porterfield, of Porterfield’s Flowers & Gifts n David Porterfield and Lee Glaze, 2760 S.W. Burlingame Road. Designer: David Porterfield, of Porterfield’s Flowers & Gifts n Dale and Maggie Warren, 5625 N.W. Timber Edge Drive. Designer: Dan Brungardt, of Home At Last n Neal and Cora Spencer, 4620 N.W. Timber Court. Designers: Donna Steinman and Natashia

England, of M. Street Interiors in Lawrence When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 19-20 Tickets:$10 in advance or $12 at the door.

Purchase at Topeka Hy-Vee, Target, Glory Days Pizza, Porterfield’s Flowers & Gifts, Red Door Home Store, Home At Last or M. Street Interiors in Lawrence, online at www.casaofshawneecounty.com or by calling (785) 215-8282.

Extra: Patron Party from 8 to 10 p.m.

Nov. 18 at the Topeka Country Club, includes private tours of homes from 6 to 8 p.m. and opportunity to shop at the boutique at 1334 S.W. Lakeside Drive prior to its opening to the public.

Tickets for the Patron Party, which are $65, are available at the CASA of Shawnee County office or by calling (785) 215-8282.

unteers to advocate for abused and neglected children in the court and foster care systems.

Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door.

During the upcoming tour, guests at the Woods-Yungclas home will be greeted by the sound of Christmas carols playing on the Steinway grand piano in the great room.

A breathtaking Christmas tree, decorated with berries, birds and ribbon adorned in musical notes, sits beside the piano and is framed by a wall of windows that overlooks the swimming pool and backyard. Deer peek out from beneath the branches of the tree, watching as guests marvel in the beauty of the season.

“I really like the tree at the end of the piano with the music ribbon going around it,” Woods said. “It’s beautiful to see the pool in the background.”

The living room features seasonal swags on the mantel with pinecones, pears, pine boughs and gold-gilded leaves — concepts that are replicated in the library and highlight the collection of kachina figures on display.

In a more whimsical twist, the kitchen is done in reds and greens, and Santa and his elves make an appearance. These playful touches also can be seen in the dalmatian-themed tree display in the basement and touches of red pinecones and dalmatian decor in the master bathroom — a nod to the canine member of the household, a rare, award-winning brown-spotted dalmatian named Freckles.

The Woods-Yungclas home also will be the site of this year’s CASA boutique, which will feature a variety of unique items from more than 25 local artists, including jewelry, fiber art, candles, pottery and stoneware. Sales from the boutique benefit CASA. “We really believe in CASA and what it does for so many people, and we wanted to be part of that and help with it,” Woods said.

‘Old Christmas’ feel

Also on the CASA Homes for the Holidays Tour is the home of

Two deer wear pinecone wreaths around their necks at the WoodsYungclas home.

Porterfield and Lee Glaze, which they share with Stuart and Henry, their two Cavalier King Charles spaniels. Decorated in reds and golds with an old Christmas feel, the front living room holds two Christmas trees adorned with golden spheres, apples, pears and oranges with cloves and lit with flickering electric candles, which are part of a new line of products available at Porterfield’s Flowers & Gifts this season.

“The last time we did the tour, we did one big tree in the middle of the room, and we decided we wanted it to be different this year, so we did two slim ones instead,” Porterfield said. “The Christmas tree is always the focal piece. At market this year, we decided on the fruit theme. I love the oranges, which is an old Christmas custom, so we incorporated it.”

Fir swags, sprays of berries, pinecones and statues of seraphs, accented by red and gold velvet ribbon, can be seen on the mantel and in dining areas of the home, as well as accenting an antique piano from England that dates back to 1797. Its companion piece, an English clock from 1760, stands in the corner of the room, keeping perfect time.

Some of the decorations most unique to the home are gold bullion wire trees and wreaths given to Glaze by an acquaintance.

Handmade in Austria, the wire was used to fashion tiny flowers, and a clove was placed in the center of each. The result is a per-

meating smell of clove each time the decorations are removed from storage.

“Part of the house is private collection and part are things that are available (at Porterfield’s,)” Glaze said.

The sitting room off of the front entryway features a tree done in nostalgic Old World Christmas ornaments in the German glass style, while the master bedroom decor is in shades of aquamarine, white and silver.

“One of the colors trending the past couple of years is a pretty, soft aquamarine color,” Porterfield said. “We’re doing the center of the store in a ‘Frozen’ kind of a look.”

Porterfield and Lee will have their entire home on display, including the second floor and a surprise water feature in the upstairs bathroom. Porterfield has donated his time and services for 29 consecutive CASA home tours.

“In the early years, it was a good marketing resource for me and for the other merchants that participate,” Porterfield said. “But as I got to know the work of the organization that sponsored it, I realized it’s something that grows in need every year.

“There are so many children who have been lost in the system.

It fills a vital need, and that’s the most important part of it now.”

Shanna Sloyer is a freelance writer from Topeka. You can reach her at ssloyer@ yahoo.com.

8 | Saturday, November 12, 2016 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com

Remodeling: Builders focused on custom homes Continued from 5

on remodeling, whereas new construction home builders stay in the new construction arena. It makes a difference in their business plan as to their number of employees and whether they use subcontractors a lot.

Q: Are those who focus on new home building hurting with the remodeling trend?

Weichert: I wouldn’t say they’re hurting, but with the market the way it is, builders are focusing more on custom home building, where they have a contract up front to build a home for a particular buyer. Or perhaps they’ll build one or two (speculative) homes. They wouldn’t go out and build 10 for sale right now.

Q: What would you advise anyone considering a remodeling project?

Weichert: As in almost everything else, do your homework. Before you hire a remodeler, check them out. Make sure they’re licensed and insured, and get references.

Liz Montano is a freelance writer from Topeka. She can be reached at (785) 230-3907 or newsbizliz@gmail.com.

TIP OF THE WEEK

Here are some unique uses for cotton balls: n Remove water spots. When chrome faucets, knobs or other fixtures start to look spotty, soak cotton balls in a mixture of water and vinegar, and place them on the spots for a few minutes to dissolve mineral deposits. n Make your bathroom smell better. Place a few drops of orange or cinnamon essential oil on some cotton balls. Put them in a small bowl, and set on a shelf. n Remove permanent marker from your skin.

Dip a cotton ball into some milk to help whisk dark marks away. n Make fresh-cut flowers last longer. Use cotton balls to plug the stems of amaryllis blooms when you change the water in the vase. The flowers need hydration at all times; the cotton balls keep water in the stem. www.goodhousekeeping.com

homes.cjonline.com | The Topeka Capital-Journal | Saturday, November 12, 2016 | 9C

10 | Saturday, November 12, 2016 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com

DIY pet beds should be cozy, safe Easily recycle an old dresser drawer or TV to suit your animal’s needs

By Melissa Rayworth Associated Press

There are as many ideas for do-it-yourself pet beds as there are kinds of pets.

Projects range from simple sewing patterns to complex woodwork.

But the goal is a safe, customized bed that suits the pet, so that “your furry family members have a cozy plane to curl up (on),” said Camille Smith, website managing editor for the home design channel HGTV. On the fancier side, some old vintage items lend themselves to eye-catching pet beds. Search your attic for a bulky old television from the pre-flat-screen era, for instance, or a boxy computer monitor once used for accessing MySpace.

Remove the screen and gut the inside. Line the box with fabric and add a pillow so your cat or small dog can snuggle up inside.

Most pet-bed projects, however, don’t require you to track down hard-to-get

‘‘

Be sure to make your pet’s comfort and safety the top priority.”

Camille Smith

website managing editor, HGTV

items.

Many online tutorials suggest reclaiming a vintage dresser drawer and filling it with a cushion.

Woodworker Scott Lavigne came up with a plan to build a custom drawer from scratch for his dog.

“I’m a builder just by nature,” said Lavigne, founder of the blog sawsonskates. com.

Creating a sleep space for his lhasa apso was a labor of love.

“It’s essentially just building a simple box,” he said.

Even those inexperienced at woodworking could likely accomplish it in a weekend. By chang-

ing the size of the pieces of wood used, his drawer project can easily be adapted for large dogs. Detailed instructions are on his blog.

Design blogger Kelly Mindell, creator of StudioDIY.com, customized and revitalized an old dog bed by ironing on emoji shapes that she cut out of iron-on fabric.

“A huge part of the DIY movement is the ability to adapt and customize an idea to reflect your own personality or needs,” Mindell said. “Since emojis are all made of simple shapes like circles, half-moons and hearts, it’s easy to take the concept and change it as desired.”

Homemade pet beds can be practical alternatives to store-bought ones.

“Dog beds are not inexpensive,” said Lavigne, who designed his project to fit a standard bed pillow, which can be tossed in the washing machine when necessary.

A DIY pet bed also can be made to match the style

of your home.

“For small dogs and cats, you can even upcycle an existing piece of furniture to create a side table that does double duty as a snug spot for curling up,” Smith said.

Lavigne’s project can be adapted by using different paint or stain colors, or choosing to distress the wood for a “shabby chic” look.

Safety, of course, is more important than how the bed looks.

“Be sure to make your pet’s comfort and safety the top priority,” Smith said.

“Ensure your finished bed is extra cozy with no protruding nails or splintered wood.”

Also, make sure before you begin a project that it’s right for your particular pet, keeping the animal’s health in mind.

“For instance, an arthritic older dog may benefit from a memory foam mattress while a padded window perch may be the best cat-nap spot for a curious kitten,” Smith said.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

This photo provided by StudioDIY.com shows a dog next to a DIY pet bed project featuring emojis created by crafter Kelly Mindell, of StudioDIY.com.

Winter’s coming: Prepare your power tools for cold storage

By C. Dwight Barnett Tribune News Service

Temperatures are lower, trees are changing color, and the first snows are expected soon. This means it’s time to prepare our power tools for winter storage.

Lawn mowers, string trimmers, hedge trimmers and all outdoor equipment need to be cleaned of dirt and debris prior to winter storage. The Outdoor Power Equipment Insti-

tute offers the following tips to help home and business owners prepare: “Drain and change engine oil and dispose of old/used oil safely. Service the air filter and perform other maintenance activities directed by the service manual. Check and do the same with all winter equipment too. Recharge the battery. If any equipment has a battery, remove and fully charge it before storing.” Make sure batteries are charged and

ready for any unexpected weather event. Keep charged batteries off of concrete floors where the battery’s charge can be drained. Don’t leave a battery charger turned “on” and unattended for long periods of time.

Handle fuel properly.

When filling gas containers, always place the container on the concrete pad at the service station where any stray static electrical charge will be contained by the ground

contact. Remember that gasoline left in tanks or gas cans can go stale over the winter, which can then damage equipment.

Add a fuel stabilizer, such as Sta-Bil, to gas storage containers. Also add Sta-Bil to the gas tanks and then run the equipment to distribute the stabilizer through the fuel systems. Turn the engine off and allow it to cool, then run the engine again until the gas tank is empty. For gasoline-powered

equipment, be sure to use the appropriate fuel.

Today’s homeowners are turning more and more to battery-powered equipment that requires less maintenance and is easy to store. I have tried both Black+Decker and Worx 20-volt string trimmers and blowers that retail for less than $100. For less than $180, Black+Decker and Worx both sell a 40volt string trimmer for larger projects. The 20volt and 40-volt equip-

ment come with a charger and a single lithium-ion battery.

Battery-powered equipment is easy to maintain and will always be ready for use summer, spring and fall.

C. Dwight Barnett is a certified master inspector with the American Society of Home Inspectors. Write to him with home improvement questions at C. Dwight Barnett, Evansville Courier & Press, P.O. Box 268, Evansville, Ind. 47702 or e-mail him at d.Barnett@insightbb.com.

homes.cjonline.com | The Topeka Capital-Journal | Saturday, November 12, 2016 | 11C

C12 | Saturday, November 12, 2016 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com