designers’ showhouse
Designated designers
Saturday, March 4, 2017 An advertising feature of The Topeka Capital-Journal
Experts to remodel home for annual fundraiser page 6 n Jamie Kidd on controlling crabgrass, page 2 n Tips for buying a new dishwasher, page 5 n Pillows can perk up a room, page 8
home.cjonline.com keith horinek/THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL
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Controlling crabgrass can be a challenge Pre-emergence products may show better results Last year at this time, I thought we had had a long winter. But this year, I’m thinking our spring keeps getting interrupted by winter — even though it’s technically still winter. We have wonderfully warm days with beautiful skies, and then Old Man Winter spits on us. No snow, just spit. I have uncovered and re-covered my strawberries. I have debated to prune or not to prune. What is a gardener to do? Think about crabgrass prevention. That’s what a gardener should do. It’s that time of year again. Buying crabgrass preventers is a little like
JAMIE KIDD
jamiehan@ksu.edu
buying laundry products. It used to be simple — soap, softener and bleach. Now, there are so many combinations it’s mindboggling. Bleach that is “color safe” — that makes me go, “Huh?” Crabgrass is a summer annual grass that germinates in the spring and dies with the frost in
mark your calendars
n Anita Dreiling will present a pressed flowers workshop from 1:30 to 3 p.m. March 22 in the upstairs classroom at the Shawnee County Extension Office, 1740 S.W. Western Ave. Participants will build and keep a project using a variety of pressed flowers. Register by March 17 by calling (785) 232-0062. Materials fee is $10. n “Spring Lawn Care” will be presented by Shawnee County Master Gardener Steve Paige at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. March 30 at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, 1515 S.W. 10th Ave. Paige will provide handouts on springtime lawn care and answer questions. the fall. Hot, dry environments, like Kansas summers, encourage crabgrass, because cool-season lawns are struggling at that time. Crabgrass often will take over if a lawn isn’t well taken care of. A healthy lawn is always the best weed preventer.
An ounce of prevention
There are two chemical methods to control crabgrass: pre-emergence, or before it appears or slightly after, and postemergence, or after it appears. Pre-emergence prod-
ucts don’t keep seed from germinating. Instead, just after germination, the new plant absorbs the chemical from the soil and dies. With few exceptions, most crabgrass preventers will have no effect on existing crabgrass plants. Crabgrass germinates when the soil reaches 55 degrees or warmer for three to five days at the ¼-inch level. This happens typically around May 1, so April 15 is a good date to shoot for if a spring application of the product is made. Not all spring weather cooperates with gardeners. A good indicator for timing product application is to watch the Eastern redbud trees. When
they begin to reach full bloom, it’s time to apply crabgrass preventer. Dimension and Barricade are the only products that give season-long control of crabgrass from a single application. In fact, they can be applied much earlier than April 15. Dimension can be applied as early as March 1, and Barricade can be applied in the fall. Both will retain their effectiveness. Because of the way these products work — killing seed as it germinates — new grass seed can’t be planted during the same season. If you need to plant grass seed in the spring — fall is the better time — here are KIDD continues on 4
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Products, ideas abound at Topeka Home Show By Jan Biles
jan.biles@cjonline.com
Ivan Weichert, president and CEO of the Topeka Home Builders Association, says there’s u s u a l l y “something for everyone” at the annual Topeka Home Show, whether that Weichert be products to purchase, home improvement ideas to act on later or a better understanding of home financing. The home show, which is celebrating its 55th year, will feature more than 120 exhibitors; displays on home building, remodeling and interiors; give-aways; and presentations on home insurance, loans and financing.
TOPEKA HOME SHOW
What: A three-day exposition featuring the latest in home trends; more than 120 vendors; displays on home building, remodeling and interiors; presentations on home financing and insurance; and give-aways. Concessions will be available. When: 1 to 8 p.m. March 10, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 11 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 12 Where: Kansas Expocentre, 1 Expocentre Drive Cost: $7 at the gate; free for children 12 and younger. Buy one ticket for $7 and get another free until March 9 at these locations: Pella, 2940 S.W. Wanamaker Road; DeBacker’s, 1520 E. 10th Ave.; Custom Wood Products, 1920 S.W. Westport Drive; Heartland Door and Window, 218 S.E. Branner St.; Carpet One, 5131 S.W. 29th St.; and Community Bank, 5431 S.W. 29th St. and 801 N.W. 25th St. Information: www.thba.com
Hours of the home show are from 1 to 8 p.m. March 10, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 11 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 12 at the Kansas Expocentre, 1 Expocentre Drive. Tickets are $7, with free admission for children 12 years and younger. Sponsors for the home show include Heartland Door and Window; Pella; PDQ Construction Inc.; DeBacker’s Inc.; Winston Brown Construction; and
Custom Wood Products. Weichert said he and other organizers begin planning the layout, sending invitations to vendors and making other preparations for the home show in July. “We’re typically set (on exhibitor space) by the end of January or early February,” he said. The Topeka Home Show attracts about 4,000 visitors during its three-day run. Weichert said most at-
tendees are from Topeka or small communities within a 15- to 20-mile radius of Topeka. What can visitors expect to see at this year’s show? To name a few: electronic-controlled home devices; 10 window manufacturers; several remodeling and home construction companies; a spa and hot tub display; electricians showing new products; newer, more efficient heating and air-
conditioning systems; storm shelters; mud jacking for foundations; home siding; bathroom displays; carpet, tile and other floor coverings; and kitchen cabinets. THBA also will give away a Caribbean cruise. Attendees can sign up for the drawing as they enter the home show. After the home show, the local remodeling industry typically sees a spike in activity. “We do see an increase in remodeling following the Topeka Home Show. Some right away, but more so as the year goes on,” Weichert told The Topeka CapitalJournal in January. “People will see an idea at the home show, inquire about it, then plan for the work to be done a few months later.” Also as part of the home show, affiliate members of
Sunflower Association of Realtors Inc. will present talks on March 11 and 12 related to home financing and insurance. Presentations on March 11 include: “Find Your Fit — Home Financing,” by Melissa Ansberry, of Envoy Mortgage, 10 a.m.; “How to Get Prequalified for a Home Loan,” by Ashley Garrett, of Fidelity State Bank & Trust Co., 11 a.m.; “The Basics of Homeowners Insurance, Including Flood Insurance, and the Benefits of Bundling,” by Jamie Hornbaker, of State Farm Insurance, 1 p.m.; and “Section 184: The Native American Home Loan Program,” by Sheila Hodson-Williams, BOK Financial/Mortgage, 3 p.m. Scheduled at 2 p.m. March 12 is “Liability Insurance,” by Peter Bellucci, of American Family Insurance.
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Kidd: Crabgrass preventers don’t last forever Continued from 2
a couple of options: n Tupersan can be applied while seeding. It allows the grass seed to germinate while preventing crabgrass and various other weeds. The drawbacks are it must be reapplied in eight weeks and it isn’t overly effective as a weed preventer. n I prefer allowing grass seed to germinate and applying Dimension two weeks after the grass emerges from the soil. Dimension is one of the rule breakers. It can kill crabgrass at germination and in its very young stage, when it has two to three
leaves. Dimension is also the best choice when treating a lawn that was planted last fall. It is kind to young tall fescue, perennial ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass seedlings. Products that contain Dimension and Barricade may use a common name rather than a trade name. The common chemical name for Dimension is dithiopyr. A product containing dithiopyr is Hi-Yield’s Turf & Ornamental Weed & Grass Stopper. The common chemical name for Barricade is prodiamine, which is found more often in weed-and-feed prod-
ucts like Fertilome’s All Seasons Lawn Food+Crabgrass Preventer. It’s best for your lawn’s health to apply preventers in April and fertilizers in May, so using Barricade in the fall is a good idea. Other pre-emergence products on the market are Balan, or benefin; Treflan, or trifluralin; Halts, or pendimethalin; and Team, or benefin+trifluralin. Each of these products should be applied near April 15 and again six to eight weeks later for effective control. Crabgrass preventers don’t last forever. Micro-
organisms and natural processes gradually break them down. Most preventers are fairly ineffective after about 60 days, with the exception of Dimension and Barricade.
More challenging Post-emergence products are limited. Crabgrass is more difficult to control after it emerges. Quinclorac is the chemical to look for. It’s found in products called Drive, Weed-BGon Max+Crabgrass Control from Ortho, and All-in-One Lawn Weed and Crabgrass Killer from Bayer. Read the labels, but
most of them can be applied after new grass has been mowed at least two or three times. Don’t attempt to control crabgrass with herbicides after mid-July, because crabgrass plants are usually too large to control effectively. It’s better to simply tolerate the crabgrass until it dies with the first frost. If your lawn is healthy, there’s little reason to spend money treating the whole yard for crabgrass. You may only need to treat the edges of sidewalks and driveways. Jamie Kidd is a horticulturist with K-State Research and Extension in Shawnee County.
Tip of the week: Keep grounded
Don’t toss those coffee grounds into the trash. Reuse them in your garden. Here are a few ways: n Composting. Add coffee grounds to your composting bin. They’re a valuable source of nitrogen. n Pest control. A barrier of coffee grounds around plants may protect them from slugs and snails. n Cat repellent. Put coffee grounds in the soil to keep cats away from digging in your garden. n Acid-loving plants. Place coffee grounds on the soil around acid-loving plants, such as roses, rhododendrons and gardenias. Coffee grounds increase acidity and nutrients in the soil. Source: yourhouseandgarden.com
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New dishwashers are quieter, more efficient Top question: How well do they clean your dishes? By James Dulley dulley.com
Dear Jim: I’m looking for a new dishwasher. My very old one is noisy, has only two cycle settings and doesn’t clean well. What features should I look for in a new efficient model? — Kathy K. Dear Kathy: Even the least-expensive new dishwasher will be more efficient and quieter than your old one. As with most appliances, if you don’t want to do much research on a product, just select one that meets EnergyStar standards (energystar.gov), and it’ll be reasonably efficient.
Your old dishwasher with few cycle options may use as much as 10 gallons of water per cycle, much of it from your water heater. New models can use less than 3 gallons of water for a normal eight-place-setting load. Not counting the energy used, just your water savings alone may cover the cost of the dishwasher detergent. Most of the dishwasher operating cost is for the energy used to heat the water. This is particularly true if you have an electric water heater. Water consumption also is becoming a concern for many areas of the coun-
try. Use the water consumption specifications for a standard-size, normal cycle setting when comparing dishwashers. New dishwashers are very quiet. In order to improve the energy efficiency, heavy insulation is used in the cabinet and door and around the pump/motor assembly to keep the water hot. A secondary benefit is much lower sound levels. The most important criterion for a dishwasher is how well it cleans dishes. If you have to do much pre-rinsing or extra handwashing of some dishes, any savings from an efficient model will be lost.
Some models use two small pumps. One is for high-pressure spraying and the other is for draining the tank. Other models use a single, larger pump that reverses for draining. The two smaller pumps often require a smaller reservoir in the tank bottom so less water is needed. Consider several features that can improve the cleaning without sacrificing energy and water efficiency. Soil sensors test the turbidity (cloudiness) of the water to determine when the dishes are clean. This adjusts the length of the cycle for each unique load to achieve optimum
cleaning with minimum water and energy use. An optional filter removes food particles from the wash water inside the dishwasher so the dishes aren’t constantly getting covered with very dirty water. Convenient self-cleaning filters use a grinder, but this can create more noise than ones that require manual cleaning. There also should be an internal water-heating element. A rinse-hold feature is helpful if you don’t always run the dishwasher immediately after putting dishes in it. This typically uses less than 2 gallons of water and provides better dish cleaning when you actually run the regular cleaning cycle. The most expensive
dishwashers have many cycle settings for just about every dishwashing need. Actually, most people end up using the three basic cycles: light, medium or pots and pans. If you are on a budget, a model with three cycles is adequate. All new models will have electronic controls with some able to be controlled remotely with a cell phone. Completely hidden controls look good for a built-in appearance. Partially hidden ones don’t look bad and allow you to monitor the progress of the cycle. Send inquiries to James Dulley, The Topeka Capital-Journal, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45244 or visit dulley.com.
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Designers to update Westboro home for fundraiser By Shanna Sloyer
Special to The Capital-Journal
Leslie Hunsicker, owner of Leslie Hunsicker Interiors, has been designing rooms for the annual Designers’ Showhouse since 1983, when she was a student. She estimates she’s participated in about 20 showhouse remodels over the years. “I love to see the joy on the homeowners’ faces when they are handed the keys and see their lovely, updated space,” Hunsicker said. Now in its 37th year, the Designers’ Showhouse is a benefit for Child Care Aware of Eastern Kansas, which offers programs and services that help improve the quality of child care for area working families. This year, Hunsicker is acting as design coordinator. Her job is to ensure cohesiveness from room to room in the home of Walt and Susan Frederick, in the historic Westboro neighborhood. “I listen to the designers give their presentations and make suggestions on designs to give the house a good, flowing design concept,” she said. Along with Jan Hutt, of Jan Hutt Interiors, Hunsicker will be designing the home’s master suite, as well as going solo in the laundry room. “This year, (the homeowners) wanted to keep the house in the 1927 time frame in which it was built, but they do want to update it,” Hunsicker said. “Look for old styles in new finishes, such as using an olderlooking light fixture in a new finish.” The designers have about two months from the day Child Care Aware officials receive the keys to the house to the opening of the showhouse for public tours from April 29 through May
Designers’ Showhouse set to open April 29
photographs by keith horinek/THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL
The 37th Annual Child Care Aware of Eastern Kansas Designers’ Showhouse will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, April 29 through May 21. This year’s designers are, from left, Vickie Lynch, Angie Varney, Caroline Bivens, Susan Frederick, Jan Davis, Joyce Varner, Cheryl Bozarth, Monica Parsel, Brandi Bryan, Leslie Hunsicker, Jennifer Metzger and Jan Hutt.
WHO’S WHO
The designers who are participating in the Designers’ Showhouse and their assigned rooms are: n Dana Niemack, of Tooter & Tillaye’s Home Goods, foyer n Sarah Henry, of Furniture Mall of Kansas, living room n Monica Parsel, of Winston Brown Construction, family room n Vickie Lynch and Angie Varney, of Soho Interiors, dining room n Jesse Borjon and Jane Koger, of Red Door, front outside entry and library n Brandi Bryan, of Carpet One, main floor powder room n Leslie Hunsicker, of Leslie Hunsicker Interiors, laundry room n Jan Davis, of Carpet One, northeast bedroom and bath n Leslie Hunsicker and Jan Hutt, of Jan Hutt Interiors, master suite n Cheryl Bozarth and Joyce Varner, of Portico, and Carolyn Cox, of The Open Window, northwest bedroom n Jennifer Metzger, of Fine Design Studio, second-floor hall bath n Cindy Manny, of cmDesign, home office n Susan Frederick, homeowner, and Caroline Bivens, third-floor suite n Thad Wende, of Wende Woodworking, and Dan Brungardt, of Home At Last, kitchen
DESIGNERS’ SHOWHOUSE
What: 37th Annual Child Care Aware of Eastern Kansas Designers’ Showhouse When: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. SaturdaySunday, April 29 through May 21 Where: 3143 S.W. Shadow Lane, in the historic Westboro neighborhood Tickets: $12 at the door; $10 in advance. Available online April 1 at east.ks.childcareaware.org. Group tours: For groups of 10 or more who are attending together. Lunch available with advance reservations and payment. Special guided group tours available on Mondays by appointment. Events: Sunday Family Fun Days, featuring activities for children while adults view the home, 2 and 3:30 p.m. Sundays; patron preview party, 6 to 9 p.m. April 28; wine sampling, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. May 12. Information and list of events: Visit east.ks.childcareaware.org. 21. “Magical transformations happen in two months,” Hunsicker said. The Frederick home will see extensive remodeling in the kitchen and master bathroom, but the majority of the house doesn’t require major construction. Design-ready spaces have
allowed for some new additions to the design team this year. Cheryl Bozarth, owner of Portico in the NOTO Arts District, will be designing the northwest bedroom of the home, along with Joyce Varner, also of Portico, and DESIGNERS continues on 7
The kitchen cabinets were temporarily moved into the family room while the kitchen is being gutted and remodeled.
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‘Zoning’ creates more space in small place Function influences room’s design By Cathy Hobbs
Designers: Artist to loan piece for show
Tribune News Service
Continued from 6
Studio spaces and oneroom living are common, especially in urban areas. Ranging typically from 250 square feet to 500 square feet, it’s important to make sure every square foot counts. Enter the concept of zones. Zoning is a design technique in which space is defined by its function. For example, a large outdoor space can be defined by distinct zones that can include dining, entertaining, lounging and grilling. This design concept can be translated to nearly any space. For example, a master bedroom can be divided into zones that may include areas for sleeping and relaxation, such as a seating or reading area. When it comes to oneroom living, the concept of zones often plays a critical role. In what is typically a small space, you must be able to sleep, eat and relax. While there are a number of convertible furniture pieces such as sofas that become beds, etc., often a successful furniture arrangement can be achieved simply by proper space planning. In a studio space, allow your sleep area to be its own space if possible. It will create for a more relaxing environment. Placing a bed within a nook or against a short wall can further help to define the space without taking up too much room. When it comes to bedding, think white and bright. You can always fur-
Carolyn Cox, of The Open Window, another NOTO business. The team’s goal is to turn the bedroom into “a grown-up guest room.” It’s an “For years, I traveled for oppormy job,” Botunity zarth said. “When we to see would get to a home the city we that you were going to, on may not depending the hotel we were staying otherin, I wouldn’t wise want to leave. have the We’re trying to create a opporroom just like tunity to that.” Barbara see.” Wa t e r m a n cheryl Peters, Topeka artist and bozarth Portico owner owner of Stuin NOTO disdio 831, will trict be loaning the design team one of her paintings for use during the Designers’ Showhouse. “The home is absolutely fabulous,” Bozarth said. “It has the glamour and the character that you don’t often see anymore. The house has a dedicated library that’s beautifully done. Everything is gorgeous.” Bozarth encourages the public to visit the Designers’ Showhouse to see design trends and get inspiration for their own design projects. “It’s an opportunity to see a home that you may not otherwise have the opportunity to see,” she said.
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tribune news service
A queen bed placed against a short wall allows for more space in this compact studio. ther define your space with artwork and toss pillows. After a long day, it is important to have a place to unwind and potentially entertain guests. This is where the lounge zone comes into play. Whether your space is large or small, it is important when
possible to carve out a lounge area. This can be successfully achieved by adding an apartment-sized sofa or small coffee table. Finishing touches include lighting and accessories. In smaller spaces, there is often a challenge relating to where someone
could potentially eat. This is why creative space planning is important. Dining tables don’t have to be large in scale, and typically round tables work in smaller spaces. Glass or other transparent materials help to visually make the space feel
more open and airy. 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 www.cathyhobbs.com.
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Pillow pairings perk up a space By Mary Carol Garrity Tribune News Service
I love the changing of the seasons. One of my favorite rituals as the cold months fold into warm, and back again, is to switch out the accent pillows on my sofa, chairs and bedding. In a few weeks, I will unzip my heavyweight plaids and replace them with lightweight florals and stripes. And just like that, my living spaces will feel new for spring. This spring, you can give your sofa, chairs and bed a quick pick-me-up simply by tossing in some new pillows. Pulling together an assortment of pillows that is arresting, but not overwhelming, is lots of fun. Kristen, one of our designers, shares our secrets: n Mix pillow sizes. Back in the day, we tossed a set of matching square pillows in each corner of our sofa, or lined up a row of the same pillows at the head of our bed and called it good. Not anymore. Life is too short to not experiment with an assortment of beautiful pillows, Kristen says. Start by pulling together a variety of pillow shapes and sizes to add to the visual interest of your furnishings. We weave together different pillow sizes when we design groupings on upholstered furniture and beds. We love them all, from neck rolls to bolsters. But our four gold-standard-sized pillows find their way into most of our designs: 21-by-21-inch squares, 24-by-24inch squares, 14-by-22-inch rectangles and 16-by-30-inch rectangles. Design tip: No matter what size pillows you pick, insist on using great pillow fills. I’m not exaggerating when I say that it makes all the difference in how your pil-
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To freshen up a room, consider adding pillows in remade timeless patterns. lows look, feel and last. n Mix colors. “People ask us all the time what the rules are for mixing colors in pillows. Happily we tell them, ‘There are no rules. Do what looks good to you,’” Kristen says. All of us have a different CQ , or color quotient, which can change room to room and season to season. For example, in my bedroom, I like soft, neutral pillows year-
round. In my living room, I opt for richer colors that sport a bit more pattern, like plaids. Determine your own CQ for the space where you want to add your pillows, then follow your inner compass. Any color you love is in right now. Blues and greens are still a favorite for many, and people are mixing together all different shades of these two nature-inspired classics. n Mix patterns. Like color, everyone is different when it comes to the kinds of patterns they love, from stripes so muted they present as a solid to high-octane florals. Pillows give you an opportunity to experiment with new looks. “Do not be afraid to try new things, because if you don’t like it, you can just zip off the case and try something else,” Kristen says. We call this process pattern play. We experiment with different patterns, colors and styles until we come up with a winning combo.
If you have a traditional home, like I do, and want to give it some new energy, consider adding pillows in remade timeless patterns. Check out houndstooth check, an age-old beauty, or traditional floral patterns done in bright and bold colors. n Mix trims. The secret to a custom look in pillows is to use a unique trim. We don’t ever selfcord our pillows, because we don’t want them to look like they just rolled off the assembly line. Instead, we like to give each pillow we make its own personality with unique trims and finishes. There are so many ways you can finish a pillow with a tape: Run the tape across the top and one side, on the top and bottom, or boxed in on all four sides. Similarly, when finishing the edges of a pillow, you can do a straight cord. Or you can do a flat flange with mitered or pleated corners, a knife pleat, a ruffle or a fringe, like pompoms. No matter what your bliss, create pillows that bring your vision for your room to life.
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Update toilet with high-tech one By Ed Del Grande Tribune News Service
Q: Dear Ed: I just saw a toilet from the future on TV that had very cool features. I’m a new homeowner on a budget and cannot afford an expensive toilet plus installation. Is there anything I can do to convert my present toilet to a high-tech toilet? — Bill, Ohio A: The bad news is your present toilet most likely can’t be converted. The good news is, if your present toilet is an elongated model (longer bowl) and if a licensed electrician can install a codeapproved GFCI electrical outlet near your toilet, you do have an option. New high-tech bidet toilet seats are available that can be installed on existing toilets. These electronic seats have many of the features found in dedicated hightech toilets. Features like a seat heater, warm water washing jets, remote control
kohler
New high-tech bidet toilet seats are available that can be installed on existing toilets. operation, LED night lighting, warm air drying and deodorizing are just some of the available options. Bottom line: If you want to pamper your bottom on your present toilet, get a hightech toilet seat from the future.
Service Directory
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