2012 Fall Home & Garden by The Westerly Sun

Fall Home & Garden

Sunday, September 30, 2012

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Fall Home & Garden

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Three ways to give energy savings the green light in your home (ARA) —“Red means stop, green means go” — we learn that axiom as children. When it comes to home energy costs, however, going green can help homeowners put a stop to runaway utility bills. And maximizing your home’s use of natural light — call it “green lighting” — is a great way to boost your home’s energy efficiency.

Three ways to give energy savings the green light in your home . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Open your house parties up to

the beautiful outdoors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Upgrade your pest control this fall . . . . . . . . . . 6

Did you know? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Make your home fall-ready (inside and out) in one weekend . . . . . . . . 8 Greening your home: Start at the tap . . . . . . . . 9 Transform your space with

unexpected color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Improving the health of your lawn . . . . . . . . . 11 Winterizing your light sources:

Window and skylight tips . . . . . . . . . . 12 Why fall is the time to tackle

invasive plant problems . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Choosing the right light bulb . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Want pristine outdoor spaces next year? Take action in the fall . . . . . . . . . 16 Give your kitchen a fresh face this fall . . . . . . . 17

High design with kids in mind . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Seven inexpensive ways to

update a home now . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Make raking leaves easier and maybe fun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 How to create the perfect outdoor space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Affordable decorating tips to take your home from ho-hum to high style . . . . . . . . . . 23

Here are three ways you can put Mother Nature to work, and use natural light to lower your energy costs:

MINIMIZE USE OF ARTIFICIAL LIGHTING Anyone who’s ever paid an electrical bill knows that the simple act of turning on a light can directly impact your monthly expenses. Homeowners looking for a long-term way to power down their lighting costs may consider Energy Star-qualified skylights a good investment. While skylights’ cosmetic appeal can’t be argued, their value goes far beyond good looks. By admitting natural light into your home, skylights can help reduce use of artificial light sources — and help you save on electricity costs. Pair powered venting skylights that come with automatic rain sensors with efficiency-enhancing accessories like designer blinds (available in a varied palette of colors and patterns), and you can improve energy efficiency as much as 37 percent, according

to skylight manufacturer Velux America. And, with tubular products like Sun Tunnel skylights, you can even bring natural light into ground-floor rooms or spots where a traditional skylight may not work, such as a first-floor powder room, hallways, or walk-in closets.

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Long gone are the days when solar powering your home was an idealistic, but impractical dream. Solar technology is more useful, accessible and cost-effective than ever. Solar water heating systems are becoming mainstream, and offer homeowners a great, green way to trim energy costs. What’s more, the cost of installing these systems has been steadily declining as the technology advances, and you may find adding one makes you eligible for tax credits or incentives from your local, state or the federal governments. You can cal-

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MAKE HOME A HEALTHIER PLACE Every year, ill health costs the U.S. economy billions of dollars, experts say, and your own health woes can have a significant impact on your pocketbook. The health benefits of natural light are welldocumented, from reducing the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and promoting the body’s production of Vitamin D, to improving mood and even learning ability. Simply opening blinds and curtains to admit more natural light can directly affect the mood inside your home — not to mention the mental state of the people living in it. Take your green lighting efforts to a higher level by adding venting skylights, and you can also help improve the air quality inside your home. While skylights admit ample natural light, their natural chimney effect works with your windows to bring in and circulate much more healthful fresh air. They also passively vent fumes and dampness that can lead to mold and mildew. By incorporating natural light and passive ventilation into their home decor and improvements, homeowners can put the brakes on rising utility costs — and give the green light to energy savings. ■ Energy Star-qualified venting skylights, with decorenhancing blinds, are cost-effective and attractive home upgrades that provide healthful natural light and passive ventilation.

Fall Home & Garden

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Open your house parties up to the beautiful outdoors These compact ultrabright low voltage LED lights make decks both appealing and accessible after dark.

(ARA) - Having guests over to your house doesn’t necessarily mean you have to keep everyone contained inside. Open the doors of your home to your backyard to provide a relaxed ambiance for your guests. And with good lighting and comfortable seating, they’ll enjoy socializing and hanging around until well after the sun sets. To prepare your backyard for such a gathering, make certain you have the following so guests will be comfortable the entire evening: • SEATING: No matter if you’re hosting a casual gathering, or something a bit more formal, guests will want to sit down to socialize. Make certain your patio, deck or grassy area has small groupings of chairs and benches within a short distance of food and drink tables, allowing guests to group together to share stories about friends and family. If you don’t have enough seating, consider asking neighbors to lend you chairs, or rent extra chairs from a party store for the evening.

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• TABLES: Place small tables throughout the backyard on which guests can easily rest plates and drinks. You can rent counter-high small tables at a party rental store, or place traditional-height tables near the gatherings of chairs to help make your guests more comfortable. During the evening, check the tables to pick up used plates and cups to keep the backyard looking refreshed. • LIGHTING: Having the proper lighting is crucial for providing the right ambiance and to keep your gathering going well after the sun goes down. Chase away the darkness with

recessed, low voltage accent lighting from Deckorators in stairways, railings and pathways so guests can easily negotiate these walkways, and provide a soft glow over the gathering with illuminated balusters and post caps, allowing guests to see and interact with other guests. Deckorators accent lighting features the latest energy-efficient LED technology which is inexpensive to run and perfect for late-evening entertaining. Low voltage is a safe and easy way to add attractive lighting elements to a deck, whether for function or style. Instead of flooding your deck with unflattering, harsh incandescence, create a dramatic, show-stopping outdoor living area with subtle illumination that calls you to relax and enjoy your outdoor retreat long past sunset. • MUSIC: Playing music during the gathering is always a nice element to a party, and can greatly enhance the theme. Consider installing speakers throughout your backyard to provide a surround-sound experience. But also be certain to check your community noise ordinances on nighttime volume restrictions, and let your neighbors know that you will follow those regulations so your party will be sure to end on a good note with them and the authorities. With these plans in place, your next gathering of family and friends will be a magical event, not just during the daylight hours, but well into the evening. Be prepared for encore requests after you successfully pull off an outdoor party encompassing your entire backyard. ■

Fall Home & Garden

Sunday, September 30, 2012

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Fall Home & Garden

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Upgrade your pest control this fall (ARA) - Where do bugs enter your home? The short answer: all over. Sometimes they crawl or fly in when windows or doors are open. They also slip in through cracks in walls or foundations, holes in window screens or crevices in the home that let in cables, wires and pipes. Most commonly though, they’ll drop right onto your roof and crawl through the tiny openings in your siding and air conditioning vents, right into your attic. Attics are the one area of homes that go overlooked when pest-proofing, according to the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). This can cause big problems. For example, cockroaches, a common attic pest, are known to “carry at least 33 kinds of bacteria, six kinds of parasitic worms and at least seven other kinds of human pathogens,” according to NPMA. How do you protect your home? Start with your attic. The NMPA gives the following DIY tips for preventing pests in attics: • Attics should be kept well ventilated and dry by using dehumidifiers and ventilators. • Keep any items stored there off the floor and in sealed plastic containers to prevent nesting. • Seal cracks and holes on the outside of the home. • Keep tree branches and shrubbery well trimmed and away from the house. • Repair fascia and rotted roof shingles; some insects are drawn to deteriorating wood. • Replace weather-stripping and repair loose mortar around attic windows. They also suggest homeowners “pay special attention to the home’s insulation” which not only keeps your home’s heat or cool air from escaping, but also helps keep invasive pests out.

However, what makes pest control in your attic such a challenge is that it’s a constant process. In fact, the NMPA recommends pestproofing the forgotten rooms of a house on a year-round schedule. And every year, many homeowners spend large amounts of money and time doing just that. If they aren’t doing it themselves, they’re hiring pest management companies to come out and do it for them, which can be costly. An alternative option that provides a long-lasting solution for homes is now available for the first time though that may offer some relief from this ongoing process: pest control insulation. It’s a DIY project that can be installed over a weekend and will combat pests year after year with little to no additional effort needed on the part of the homeowner. “Before this, preventative pest control had to be reapplied on an ongoing basis,” says Bruce Harned, director of marketing at GreenFiber, manufacturer of the OrkinTherm pest control insulation. “Now, you can purchase and install a long-lasting solution once to proactively protect homes against pests before problems arise.” While there’s definitely an infestation point at which you need to call in a professional, the best defense is a good offense. There are several preventive measures and good quality solutions for superior pest-control that can be easily administered by homeowners over a weekend. The NMPA encourages homeowners to take pest control into their own hands and consider using DIY options. These can be effective “pest-proofing” measures to protect your attic and other areas of your home. Visit www.PestWorld.org for more tips and techniques on DIY pest control. Detailed videos and other information, featuring how-to install simulations and store availability for OrkinTherm pest control insulation can be found at www.orkintherm.com. ■

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Fall Home & Garden

Sunday, September 30, 2012

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Did you know? According to TGB Enterprises in Burlington, Ontario, kitchen renovations are the most popular home improvement projects. Renovating a kitchen is a great way to increase the value and also the functionality of a home. The National Kitchen & Bath Association’s latest market report says that, in the first three months of 2012, the number of homeowners who started a kitchen renovation was up more than 50 percent from the previous quarter. A kitchen is a central gathering place and is one of the most popular family gathering spots in the house. With traditional dining rooms being eliminated in favor of open, eat-in kitchens and entertaining spaces, more attention than ever is now placed on a well-designed kitchen. The average remodeling budget for a kitchen renovation exceeds $30,000. But there are ways to keep budgets in check.

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• Consider laminate flooring and counters, which will look like real stone but at a fraction of the cost. • Skip custom cabinetry in lieu of stock units. They’re more attractive than ever before and don’t require the wait time of custom-ordered cabinets. • Choose less expensive, mid-range appliances that may function better than or equal to highend models. • Plan layout accurately and spend time reviewing your designs. Late changes in a remodel can quickly eat up a budget. ■

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Fall Home & Garden

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Make your home fall-ready (inside and out) in one weekend

Complete these projects this weekend and spend the rest of fall enjoying your home and family. Paint it: Fall is the perfect season for painting, as you’re able to open your windows just enough to keep the air clean as you apply a fresh coat of color to interior walls. Painting is a quick — and doable — weekend project that provides instant results. Purdy Professional Painting Tools can help you complete every project quickly and perfectly. Consider updating a guest bath or adding an accent wall to your favorite room. A helpful tool for painting

small areas is the Jumbo MiniRoller by Purdy. The 4-1/2-inch and 6-1/2-inch covers allow you to attain a perfect-looking paint finish and cover those hard-toreach or small areas. Faux treatments are also coming back in style. To create a room that’s ontrend, pick up a Symphony Faux Finishing Tool and add a “wash” or “texture” to your favorite space for an even more customized appearance. Inspect it: Regardless of the type of heat source used in your home, be sure to schedule an annual inspection before the temperatures drop. This will save the expense of having it checked during the busy season and reduce the risk of spending a few days in a

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cold home with a broken furnace. If your home has a fireplace and chimney, hire a professional chimney sweep to remove any debris that could catch fire and wreak havoc on your home. Winterize it: Cover grills and air conditioner units and store outdoor furniture in a shed to prevent rust and damage from the elements. Winterize any pipes that are exposed to outdoor temperatures, and consider installing door and window draft guards to keep your home warm and efficient. Protect it: Newly installed decks and permanent, wooden furniture require protective stains or varnishes. Be sure to apply the proper protection to the surfaces prior to the arrival of weather that could damage any untreated wood. If your deck is older and requires a facelift, use a Purdy Prep Tool, such as a wire brush, to scrape away and remove the existing treatment to ensure the proper refinishing of the surface.

Spruce it up: Give all shrubs and the lawn one last trim before winter to keep your home’s curb appeal looking great well beyond the first frost of the season. Remove seasonal plants that won’t last the winter to also ensure the outside of your home looks well-maintained throughout the coming seasons. If it looks too bare for your liking, consider a few potted mums on the porch or stoop for added fall color. Keeping the plants in pots will save the effort of digging into the frozen ground when their life span is through. Repainting exterior doors during this time is a fun way to make a statement and deliver an entirely new look to the outside of your home. Add a wreath or swag to your newly painted door to showcase your personal style. By taking the proper precautions and completing these weekend projects, you’ll save time and money, all while keeping your home wellmaintained, looking great and ready for the winter. ■

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(ARA) - With cooler temperatures on the way, there’s no better time to finish checking items off the home improvement to-do list. Several projects are “must-do’s” and should be completed before the harsher weather arrives. Most are simple enough to accomplish in just a couple days.

Fall Home & Garden

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Greening your home: Start at the tap (ARA) - In today’s environmentally conscious times, it seems we’re surrounded by the need to shop, act and live“green.” Some of our choices are easy and small, while others can be big and costly. But one thing is for sure — each choice can make a significant difference. Some of the most important green choices we can make are right within our own home, according to Kevin McJoynt at Danze, Inc. “Installing items like Energy Star appliances and energy-efficient windows is a great step in moving your home to be more green,” says McJoynt.“But changing your in-home water usage can have the most impact." According to McJoynt, water shortages, energy demands and the cost of transporting water continue to rise.“Finding ways to simply reduce our usage without dramatically altering our lifestyle could save billions of gallons of water each year in the United States." McJoynt offers up these tips on how you can immediately start conserving water (and save money) in your home: • Replace older toilets (1992 or earlier) with newer, high efficiency toilets (HETs). They operate at 1.28 gallons per flush and could save 11 gallons of water per toilet per day. Danze has several new HETs that outperform and are more stylish than many toilets found in current homes. • Be sure to turn off the tap when brushing your teeth - it could save nearly 3,000 gallons of water per year.

• Update your bathrooms with newer WaterSense certified lavatory faucets. According to the Environmental Protection Agency WaterSense program, if every household in the U.S. installed these water-saving lavatory faucets, more than $350 million in water utility bills and more than 60 billion gallons of water annually would be saved, plus $600 million in energy costs for heating the water.

load, versus an average machine that uses 41 gallons.

• Fix those leaks. Most leaky faucets can waste more than 3,000 gallons of water each year.

• Take a shower rather than a bath. A full bath tub requires up to 70 gallons of water, while taking a five-minute shower uses 10 to 25 gallons. Want to be even more efficient? Switch your showerhead to a water-saving option.

“Better design and engineering of many new bathroom products actually gives the user improved performance as well as efficiency,” adds McJoynt.“Faucets, toilets and showerheads are great examples. They’re just like other appliances that use less energy, but still work very well."

“We realize showers are a tricky one when it comes to saving water. Homeowners want to make sure they have a well-performing shower experience,” says McJoynt.“However, the EPA WaterSense program recently published standards for showerheads that consider both conservation and performance to build support of these water-saving units. Be sure to look for the WaterSense certification mark."

• Always turn the water off between tasks. Letting your faucet run for five minutes uses about as much energy as letting a 60-watt light bulb run for 14 hours. • Make sure to wash only full loads of laundry. Using a high-efficiency washing machine is ideal, as they use about 28 gallons of water per

If all the water-saving green choices still have you overwhelmed, select one tip at a time and incorporate it into your home. Looking for other tips? Visit the EPA’s WaterSense website. For more information about the performance and efficiency of Danze faucets, showerheads and toilets, visit www.danze.com. ■

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Fall Home & Garden

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Transform your space with unexpected color (ARA) - For today’s homeowners who are seeking easy ways to update their homes on a do-it-yourself budget, nothing transforms the look and feel of a room as quickly and affordably as a fresh coat of colorful paint. “Every home has the potential to look amazing - inside and out,” says HGTV star and interior designer David Bromstad. “If your space needs an update, adding color is the easiest way to transform it while reflecting your personality and taste.” Bromstad offers these tips for sprucing up a space with a splash of color: • Highlight unexpected areas. Paint can go beyond walls. You can put it on unexpected surfaces, such as ceilings and accessories. Try a bright hue on the interior of a bookshelf or stair risers for a fun twist. • Use white on trim to make your color pop.

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• Coordinate your color transitions. For high-impact transitions, combine bolder shades with their more neutral counterparts and for a more tranquil transition, stick to softer or lighter shades that are from the same color family. When it comes to paint selection, Bromstad recommends using HGTV(R) HOME by SherwinWilliams, which features unique designer-inspired color collections for interiors and exteriors. Each collection highlights 20 perfectly coordinated colors and design tips for homeowners to create harmonious room-to-room color transitions. “This is a great design tool,” Bromstad says. “It takes the guesswork out of coordinating colors and gives you the confidence to show off your personal style. You can focus on the look you want to achieve, and HGTV HOME by Sherwin-Williams will guide you for the best color choices.” For more color inspiration, visit your local Sherwin-Williams store or www.sherwin-williams.com. ■

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Fall Home & Garden

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Improving the health of your lawn (ARA) - Let’s face it: When you live in the suburbs, a healthy, well-kept lawn is a must. Before anyone even steps into your house, it’s your front lawn that makes the first impression of your home. So what’s something that can help keep your lawn healthy? Many people seem to forget about aeration. Aeration, or aerification, is a method of perforating your lawn with small holes to allow for more water circulation and oxygen flow to the soil and roots. Aeration can help fix lawn challenges like poor drainage or gas exchange, soil compaction, layering in the soil profile, heavy soil in the root zone, and thatch. It’s one of the best conditional processes you can do for your lawn, and is absolutely essential in restoring a worn lawn. “From a grass health perspective, it’s probably the single most valuable thing you can do for a lawn along with mowing, watering and fertilizing,” says Ross Hawley, marketing manager for Toro. “Aerating leads to healthier, stronger lawns, which minimizes weeds and pest problems.”

So how often should you aerate your yard? It depends on where you live, and the soil conditions of your yard. According to Hawley, aeration tends to be done in the spring, when the grass is coming out of winter dormancy, or in the fall, after the stress of summer and root movement. Aeration is more effective when there are higher levels of moisture in the ground, because you can pull deeper cores than with dry ground. It’s generally recommended that you water your lawn a day before aerating, and watering it again once the job is done. So how can you get your lawn aerated? More and more contractors are adding aeration to their list of services, seeing the benefits of aeration on lawns and sports fields, particularly golf courses. However, with the right equipment, it’s easy to learn the process and do the job yourself. Aerators come in different models, some similar to a lawnmower that it doesn’t take long to get a feel for the equipment. Most aerators See LAWN, page 22

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Fall Home & Garden

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Winterizing your light sources: Window and skylight tips (ARA) - Sunshine and summer go together like coconut and pineapple. Yet when winter arrives with shorter days and cooler temperatures, the amount of sun that enters your home can be more important than at any other time of year. Inadequate sunlight can influence seasonal mood changes, vitamin D deficiency and even your utility bills. It’s important to prepare for winter by taking care of the portals that allow natural light into your home: windows and skylights. Caulking and weather stripping are the two most common ways to prep windows, and the jobs are easily within the abilities of most do-it-yourselfers. Washing windows should also be part of your winter-preparedness measures; clean windows will allow the maximum amount of room-warming sunlight to enter your home.

Winterizing existing units or installing new Energy Star-qualified venting skylights, with energy efficient and decor-enhancing blinds, is a cost-effective and attractive home upgrade that provides healthful natural light and passive fresh air year-round.

Winterizing skylights is also important. Skylight manufacturer Velux, offers these tips for preparing your skylights for cooler months, as well as for year-round care and maintenance: • Have your fixed or venting skylights inspected by a qualified professional. While issues such as damaged claddings or flashings would be obvious, other problems might only be diagnosed through a professional inspection. • Remove any debris that has accumulated around the exterior of the skylight. Take appropriate care when climbing on the roof and consider hiring a professional if you’re not confident of your safety skills.

• Thoroughly clean the glass part of your skylight, inside and out. You’ll likely need a ladder to reach it, so be sure to take steps to prevent a fall. Use a mild, non-abrasive glass cleaner and a soft brush or other non-abrasive applicator to clean the glass, and immediately remove the cleaner with a squeegee or lint-free cloth. Never use metal scrapers, knives or blades of any kind to clean large areas of glass. • Clean interior frames — often pre-painted wood or plastic — with a damp cloth or mild, soapy water for tougher dirt. Remove insect screens in venting skylights, spray with a garden hose and allow them to dry completely before replacing them.

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Fall Home & Garden

Sunday, September 30, 2012

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â&#x20AC;˘ Care for the mechanics of your skylights. Open venting skylights (turn off the power if theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re electric) and wipe off the chain using a clean, dry towel and no cleaner or solvent of any kind. For manual skylights, inspect the loop or crank handle to ensure itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s secure. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t add lubrication to your skylightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s moving parts; the internal workings of manual and electric operators are considered maintenancefree, and are pre-lubed, so they should require no additional lubrication. â&#x20AC;˘ Add blinds. A must-have aesthetic accessory available in more than 100 colors and patterns, blinds also provide extra insulation and allow you to control the amount of sunlight that enters through your skylights. They are also particularly effective at retaining heat during cool weather; studies show that adding a blind

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to make a complete skylight system can increase energy efficiency by 37 percent. That gain in efficiency jumps to as much as 45 percent with a blackout blind used on a fixed skylight, according to Velux. Plus, you may be eligible for a 30 percent federal tax credit for solar blinds. â&#x20AC;˘ Consider an inexpensive upgrade from fixed skylights to venting models. Venting skylights can help you enjoy fresh fall air by providing passive ventilation in addition to more natural light. If you happen to be replacing your roof, there is no better time to upgrade skylights, since most roofers will charge up to double to come back and replace units versus doing the job while replacing the roof. By upgrading, you can also gain the benefits of a â&#x20AC;&#x153;No-Leakâ&#x20AC;? warranty, plus greater energy efficiency with advanced glass coatings. Finally, if you happen to be replacing a plastic bubble skylight with an Energy Star-qualified glass model, you can save up to $194 per year on your cooling costs. Winterizing your windows and skylights can help ensure they provide you with the maximum amount of healthful, natural light during the dark, cold months of winter. â&#x2013;

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â&#x20AC;˘ If your skylightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pre-finished wood frame needs refinishing, thoroughly remove the factory finish. Make sure the surface is clean, then apply a coat of water-based acrylic varnish or paint, following the manufacturerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s instructions for application. Be sure to keep all varnish and paint off the skylight gaskets and glass. Velux does not recommend painting over plastic frames and sashes.

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Fall Home & Garden

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Why fall is the time to tackle invasive plant problems (ARA) - The crisp days of fall will soon be here, but a long dry summer has left many homeowners looking out on lawns and gardens overtaken with invasive weeds and vines. A yard full of these noxious plants is sure to make it difficult to enjoy the cooler outdoor temperatures. In 2012, the nation faced one of the hottest summers on record in the last 60 years. With more than two thirds of the country experiencing severe to extreme drought, conditions were ideal for pesky weeds to flourish. Weeds like dandelions, crabgrass and clover easily tolerate hot temperatures and dry soil, overtaking lawns and gardens and lingering throughout the cooler fall months. Ivy and other

aggressive vines thrive in the summer heat, climbing and covering bushes and trees and ultimately killing the plants underneath with their shade. Left untreated, invasive plants can quickly become health and safety hazards. Kudzu can grow up to a foot per day, causing tree limbs to break under its weight, damaging homes and outdoor living spaces. Common grass weeds like nettles and thistles sting and prick the skin, and contact with dangerous plants like poison oak, ivy and sumac cause moderate to severe allergic reactions in almost all people. “Fall herbicide treatments are the most effective way to eliminate unattractive and potentially harmful

Poison ivy

plants from lawns and gardens so that those spaces can be enjoyed throughout the cool fall months,” says Aaron Hobbs, president of RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment), a national organization representing the manufacturers, formulators and distributors of pesticide and fertilizer products. “This is the best time of year to eliminate invasive plants,” Hobbs adds.“Weeds move the products of photosynthesis like water, glucose and oxygen to their roots for winter food storage in the fall, enabling the roots to soak up herbicides as well.” Two to three treatments are usually all that is needed to completely destroy these types of plants.

Effective herbicide options exist for every type of weed and vine. The Environmental Protection Agency rigorously tests herbicides for potential human health and environmental impact before they can be registered and sold for use. As with all pesticides, users should always read labels and use and store products accordingly. With just one or two follow-up treatments after an initial fall herbicide application, invasive plants are eradicated at the root, and people can take back their lawns and gardens to enjoy the beauty of fall. ■

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Fall Home & Garden

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Choosing the right light bulb (Family Features) The way you light your home is changing, starting with how you shop for light bulbs. In addition to new choices in technology — state of the art LEDs or CFLs, for example — you have a variety of options in terms of brightness, as well as how long you want the bulb to last. In addition, you have the option of spending more money up front on an energy efficient bulb that can save you money in the long-run. The good news is you don’t have to be an Edison to find the right bulb. Use these tips and resources to pick the perfect bulb for your home:

CALCULATE YOUR SAVINGS Before you hit the stores, do your homework. Determine what lighting attributes are important to you, whether it’s long life, instant-on, dimming capabilities, bulb shape or luminosity. Different bulb technologies offer different benefits. To boil down how much switching to a more efficient bulb means for you, look for resources like the savings calculator GE offers at www.gelighting.com/lighttransforms. It shows consumers how much they’ll save with a simple switch from incandescent bulbs to GE’s Energy-Efficient Soft White bulbs, which operate much like incandescent bulbs but are up to 28 percent more efficient. See CHOOSING, page 22

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Want pristine outdoor spaces next year? Take action in the fall (ARA) - The cooling weather signals most homeowners to retire their lawn and garden equipment for the year. But before you stow away the rakes and hoes, remember that fall offers a unique opportunity for starting projects that can yield beautiful landscape results next year. You can save time and potentially money by doing a few simple projects now so when spring arrives, your yard reaches its full potential. Every year, a lot of time, money and effort is devoted to the pursuit of a beautiful and well-maintained home landscape. According to the 2011 American Time Use Survey conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Americans who dedicate time to lawn and garden care spend on average more than two hours a day maintaining their outdoor spaces. While a beautiful yard takes effort, there are ways you can better utilize the time,

money and energy you spend on maintenance. Keep these tips in mind when tackling the landscape during the cooler months:

1. RAKE AND PICK UP LEAVES. If leaves are left scattered on the lawn, grass won’t grow as well in the spring. Don’t worry about removing leaves from plant beds, as they actually help insulate and feed plants during the winter months.

2. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FALL PLANTING OPPORTUNITIES. Plant perennial flowers, ground covers, spring bulbs, trees and shrubs in early fall so they have time to establish strong and healthy roots. Some of the best sales on perennials are in the fall when greenhouses are trying to close out their inventories.

3. MULCH PLANT BEDS. It’s important to add a layer of organic mulch to plant beds, which helps roots get established before the ground freezes solid. Mulch also helps to retain soil moisture and prevent future weed growth. Don’t add mulch where iris rhizomes are planted because they are prone to rotting.

4. MAXIMIZE YOUR EQUIPMENT WITH ACCESSORIES. Find accessories or attachments that enhance the equipment you already own, such as your all-terrain vehicle. For example, the SnowSport ATV Plow manufactured by Agri-Cover can be used year round for landscaping projects as well as snow removal. With this versatile snow plow, a homeowner can easily level, spread or push dirt, gravel and snow anytime of the year. This turf-friendly, all-terrain plow is available in six different blade lengths, so you can find the best one for your ATV or utility terrain vehicle. Each blade is 14.5-inches high and has a 1-inch thick rubber cutting edge for efficient scraping no matter what project you’re taking on.

the fall, and possibly create ice dams in the winter. It’s wise to clean out rain gutters and make sure water flows away from walkways and driveways, which could ice over and become hazardous in the winter.

6. WINTERIZE PIPES. Shut off water to all outdoor spigots to prevent pipes from freezing. If you have a sprinkler system, blow out the lines so that sitting water doesn’t freeze and destroy the system.

7. MAINTAIN YOUR DRIVEWAY. If you have a tar driveway, popular in the cities and suburbs, you might want to consider sealing it before the cold weather hits. Ice and snow can damage the surface and cause cracks to expand. If you live in a rural area, the maintenance of a gravel driveway may also be on your fall to-do list before the winter winds start to blow. With these simple tips, you’ll make the most of fall time to create a beautiful landscape setting you can enjoy through all of next year. ■

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Give your kitchen a fresh face this fall (ARA) - As the season changes, many of us will get the itch to tackle any number of home improvement projects before winter. For some, a complete remodel is in the works. For others, just a few quick fixes are needed to make the home a more enjoyable space during the long winter months or in preparation for holiday entertaining.

by adding a fresh shine, some personality and even greater functionality to the space. If your cabinetry hardware seems a bit dated, opt for one of many modern options for an instant, low-cost update. Replace the kitchen faucet with a sleek, better-functioning style to elevate the kitchen design, but also introduce a newer water-saving solution.

With the kitchen at the heart of the home, it’s an obvious place to take time for a few updates this season. Here are a few ideas to help give your kitchen a fresh look without spoiling the budget.

Don’t underestimate the power of paint

Although replacing kitchen cabinetry can be a very costly home improvement project, it usually makes the biggest impact. With unlimited options to choose from and varying price points, it’s easy to become overwhelmed and discouraged. Even if your budget is small, don’t give up on the idea of updating your kitchen cabinetry because there are plenty of affordable solutions. For example, QualityCabinets offers its Woodstar series, a line of affordable and stylish cabinets including its newest door styles — Kittery and Brookport — that are on-trend and available in popular finishes ranging from a classic and airy natural stain to dark and rich tones. Add some personality and shine Hardware and faucets are touched every day, and wear and tear are inevitable. Just switching out these pieces can make a dramatic difference

Lighten up in the kitchen Kitchen lighting is easy to overlook. If there are outdated lighting fixtures in your kitchen, or simply not enough light, consider adding new whimsical pendant lights or splurge on a stunning chandelier to create a focal point. Simply adding lighting under the wall cabinets and dimmer switches can introduce a new ambiance to the space. A visit to your local home center or lighting showroom will give you plenty of ideas. ■

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With color trends constantly changing, and the focus on color in the home becoming more prominent, a fresh coat of paint can change the look and feel of a space almost instantly. With the changing season, opt for colors that add warmth and comfort or choose a bright color to combat the gray of winter. Paint can also help cover up unsightly wall marks and stains and provide the backdrop for new decor and furnishings for a whole new look. To ensure your new look has staying power, make sure to purchase a quality paint specially formulated for the kitchen.

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Fall Home & Garden

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High design with kids in mind (ARA) - For many years, creating family-friendly spaces meant sacrificing your design aesthetic. Thankfully, gone are the days when having children meant succumbing to a house full of bright-yellow bins and sofas wrapped in plastic. Today, new materials and technologies make it easy to create a beautiful, well-designed home that meets the needs of adults and children alike. The following tips may help you design a living space that satisfies your design goals and meets the demands of your youngest family members.

INVEST IN GOOD FURNITURE. It may seem counterintuitive, but Erica Islas, interior designer and founder of EMI Interior Design, encourages clients with young children to buy high-quality furniture.“Some people are afraid to invest in living rooms and family rooms because they think kids will ruin everything,” Islas says.“But the truth is that you have to get things that will hold up to children."

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Children are notoriously tough on furniture; and the cheaper furniture you may be tempted to buy will likely break more easily and need to be replaced frequently. Instead, look for pieces that are built to withstand years of abuse and can be reupholstered or refinished once your children have grown. Furthermore, many furniture manufacturers and stores offer warranties. Consider those carefully and decide if the extra protection would be of value to your family.

rooms in which you spend the most time. Pieces incorporating color, a bit of pattern and touchable textures will not only create interesting focal points throughout your home, but will help camouflage spills. If complex patterns aren’t your thing, consider materials such as leather or vinyl that can be wiped clean. No matter your design aesthetic, make sure to protect your upholstered pieces with a stain guard.

USE COLOR, PATTERN AND TEXTURE.

Creating a kid-friendly space does not mean glass and art should go into storage. Instead, teach your family to appreciate beautiful objects by living among them and elevate the See DESIGN, page 22

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Sunday, September 30, 2012 ed and modern. Take inventory of wall outlets and light switches and think about selecting new ones that coordinate with your home decor. 5. Use plants. Empty corners or spots youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not certain how to fill may benefit from a plant. Plants are inexpensive ways to add instant color and visual appeal to a room. Plus, having live plants can help improve indoor air by filtering out contaminants. A home with plants also feels more cozy. 6. Hang new wall art. It may be time to look at your photos and artwork and make a few adjustments. Finding new prints to hang could instantly change a roomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ambience. And you neednâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t spend a lot of money on professional photography, either. Grab your camera and take a few close-up shots of flowers or take in

a landscape scenery. Many of todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home printers can produce professional-quality prints in minutes. 7. Try a new coat of paint. After youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve exhausted other avenues, choosing a new paint color may be the new look you desire. Painting is one of the least expensive yet most dramatic methods of changing a homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interior. With dozens of hues to choose from, and new apps that enable you to take snapshots of things in nature or in your life and match them up to a paint color, you will have scores of opportunities to explore fresh new colors for your home. When you get inspired to make improvements to the home but fear how much it may take out of your wallet, consider inexpensive tricks that can induce a bigâ&#x20AC;&#x153;wowâ&#x20AC;? factor. â&#x2013;

Throw pillows are accessories that can easily and inexpensively change the look of a space.

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What many homeowners may not realize is that there are many ways to make updates and changes to a home that do not require a major overhaul or a large price tag. The following are seven projects that wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t break the bank.

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2. Add lighting. Lighting at different levels in the room can create a vibrant impact. Many homeowners mistakenly put in a couple of table lamps and think that will be adequate. However, properly illuminating a room means varying the lighting to create different moods at different times. Plus, more light can make a room feel more welcoming.

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4. Change knobs or small accents. Give a room a new look by focusing on the small details. Switch out cabinet knobs for something updat-

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3. Add new pillows or drapes. Changing a few aspects of a room can give it an entirely new look. If you want to add a splash of color but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know what to do, think about incorporating some new throw pillows or change the curtains. An accessory here and there in a bright color also can incorporate a new hue without it being overwhelming.

Down

1. Move around furniture. You may be able to change the look of a room without spending any money. Interior designers know how to arrange furniture for maximum appeal, but the average homeowner can do it, too. Find a focal point in the room and angle the furniture toward it. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make the focal point the television, however. Try changing the placement of chairs and sofas. Simply moving a curio cabinet

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Oftentimes, buying a home opens up a bottomless pit of opportunities for projects and improvements. While some homeowners engage in different repairs and fix-ups out of necessity, many others like to freshen-up their spaces out of personal preference instead of need. But even the most well-intentioned projects can be waylaid if budgets are tight.

Fall Home & Garden

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Make raking leaves easier and maybe fun Raking leaves is an annual event for people in many parts of the country. Some people enjoy getting out in the crisp, autumn air and spending a day cleaning up the yard. Others do not relish the idea of hours upon hours of leaf removal from their lawns. Making the process easier and more enjoyable benefits all involved. The majority of homeowners realize that in order to keep their lawn pristine, leaves and debris must be routinely removed from the yard. Raking leaves is an activity that takes time and energy. It also can be strenuous work. However, by employing a few techniques, the work doesn’t have to be that difficult and it might even be fun. • Invest in a quality rake, particularly one that bends a bit with each stroke. This will help maximize the number of leaves that will be collected with each pass. • If raking routinely causes aches and pains in your arms, shoulders and wrists, look for ergonomic rakes that are the proper height for your body.

• Move your legs when you are raking instead of remaining stationary and just using your arms. This will help reduce your risk of back pain. • Use smaller passes of the rake to collect leaves. This method is more efficient and less taxing on your muscles. • Turn on music while you are raking. Sing along to the tunes or move with the beat, and it just may take your mind off of the task at hand. • Be sure to rake downwind; otherwise every pile of leaves you collect may end up blowing around and giving you more work.

Include kids when raking leaves to make this chore a family affair.

• Rake leaves in groups. Enlist the help of all

family members so that it will take much less time. Plus, everyone gets to spend time working together. Talking and joking around will certainly pass the time more quickly. • Use a leaf blower sparingly. It may seem advantageous to simply blow the leaves to the curb, but this can take more time and leaf blowers are much more noisy. Use the blower to dislodge leaves from hard-to-reach areas, like behind bushes or under decks. Then rake the leaves into manageable piles. • Wait until after the peak time for leaves to be falling before you do the majority of raking. Otherwise, you could spend just about every Saturday and Sunday cleaning up leaves. • Create family-centered games while raking. Have contests to see who can rake the largest pile in the shortest amount of time. Take breaks so that everyone can enjoy jumping in a

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• There are some leaf blowers that can vacuum up leaves and mulch them at the same time. Put a portion of this leaf mulch into a compost pile or in your garden beds. • If your town collects leaves curbside, be sure to keep them in a neat pile to reduce the likelihood of leaves making their way into a nearby sewer. Leaf cleanup is a necessary task, but the task doesn’t have to be tedious and time-consuming. ■

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Fall Home & Garden

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How to create the perfect outdoor space

PAINTED PATIOS AND PORCHES One easy way to brighten up an outdoor area is with a fresh coat of paint. Siding, fences and even your home’s concrete foundation will instantly become like-new with a fresh coat of paint. Outdoor surfaces need to stand up to wear and tear, so make sure to use high quality paint, like Pratt & Lambert Blok-Tite Waterproofing Paint. Available in more than 500 rich colors to suit any space, Blok-Tite allows you to choose the perfect shade to set the mood for your backyard getaway while waterproofing your home’s masonry elements. Brighten unsightly retaining walls or concrete with a fresh coat of Blok-Tite, and you’ll enjoy more pleasing aesthetics as well as protection against dampness and seeping water.

FURNITURE Comfortable, attractive furniture is key to decorating any room in your home, and this counts for outdoor areas as well. Don’t fret if your budget is limited. With a little TLC, used patio furniture can become good as new for a fraction of the cost. Refresh worn tables and chairs with a coat of outdoor spray paint, such as the Krylon Outdoor Spaces line, to beautify and protect metal components against the elements. Then, re-cover cushions and add colorful outdoor pillows to quickly brighten the sitting area.&nbsp;

or have limited yard space. A quick visit to any home and garden center will help you find the perfect living additions to your patio, yard or porch. Talk to an associate or pick up a gardening how-to book to find the right flora for your lifestyle and climate.

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LIGHTING

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Weather permitting, an outdoor space can be the perfect place to relax for an evening, and you may not be ready to move inside when the sun sets. To avoid sitting in total darkness, consider your many options of patio lighting. From path sconces, to post lamps, to string lights, the ways to keep your outdoor space lit are limitless. You might even consider some energy-saving solar models for an easy and ecofriendly solution.

Even if you don’t consider yourself a natural gardener, adding some domestic foliage can take your space from bland backyard to restful retreat. Potted plants offer the opportunity for decoration on porches and patios, and are perfect for those who live in apartment buildings

With a few simple updates, you can easily create an outdoor haven in your own backyard. An open-air “room” is a great addition to any home, so get started and enjoy your new space for entertaining, reading and relaxing without a costly renovation. ■

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(ARA) - Comfortable spaces don’t need to be constrained by four walls, and an outdoor entertaining area can quickly become the most important “room” of your home. You aren’t alone if your porch or patio looks outdated and drab. Weather conditions can be tough on outdoor areas, but with a few simple updates, you can create a perfect outdoor space in no time.

Fall Home & Garden

Sunday, September 30, 2012

LAWN from page 11

CHOOSING from page 15

have simple-to-use controls and can be operated by the average property owner. There’s also no need to get a license to operate the equipment, but the operator should be sure they understand how to use it so they are getting the best results for their lawn.

CHECK THE FACTS

Aerating equipment, although easy to learn to use, can be costly for the average homeowner who is only using it once a year. A basic, mechanically driven “starter” aerator still costs around $2,000, with higher-quality hydraulic aerators running between $3,000 and $5,000. Fortunately, aerators are available to rent from most equipment rental stores. “Because aerators are pretty easy for a homeowner to handle, it can make a lot of sense for them to do their aeration themselves, and the easiest and most cost-effective way to do that is to rent equipment when you need it,” says Anna Foster, rental product marketing manager at Toro. “In fact, a great way to save is to get a pool together with your neighbors. Everyone can chip in on renting the aerator for a day, and it can just be passed along. “Aerating can be hard work, which is why many people choose to have a professional handle it,” Foster continues. “If you are going to tackle it by yourself, selecting the right aerator can help cut down on how labor-intensive the job is.” Foster encourages homeowners to look for brands they are familiar with when renting an aerator. “At Toro, we’ve adapted the same controls we have on our mowers to our aerators. This helps cut down on the learning curve on an unfamiliar piece of equipment.” ■

DESIGN from page 18 more fragile accessories so they are out of reach. Shadow boxes and enclosed shelves make stunning display cases for your most delicate decorative pieces.

The back of every new light bulb package now includes a“Lighting Facts” label that is similar in form to the nutrition label on the back of food boxes. The Lighting Facts label provides information about lumens (brightness), energy cost, life expectancy, light appearance (warm versus cool light), wattage and mercury content. Mandated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the label is meant to standardize how companies in the lighting industry convey light bulb features, helping you to quickly make comparisons between bulbs and bulb technologies.

PREVENT A MESS BEFORE IT HAPPENS. Kids learn and explore through hands-on activities, but too often their adventures translate to extra work for you in wiping away mess and grime from household items. To reinforce the importance of washing hands after play time, consider investing in a hands-free or touch-activated faucet, such as the Delta Addison lavatory faucet with Touch2O.xt Technology. The faucet turns on when tapped or when hands are within a 4-inch sensing field. This helps kids reach the water, even if the handles are too far away, and makes it easy for anyone to turn on the flow of water without transferring messes. Best of all, the faucet has graceful curves and multiple finish options that bring an added sense of style to the bath.

LOOK FOR LUMENS, NOT WATTS In addition to the Lighting Facts label, some light bulb packaging is placing more emphasis from classifications by watts instead classifications by lumens. While you may have equated watts with brightness every time you made a bulb purchase, in true lighting terms, this gauge isn’t accurate. Watts are merely the measure of electrical energy used to light a bulb. A lumen is a measure of the bulb’s brightness. Simply put, the higher the lumen number, the brighter the bulb. So, if you are looking for a brighter light, look for a higher lumen number on the box. The same isn’t necessarily true for watts. In fact, a 13 watt CFL may be brighter than a 60 watt incandescent bulb.

MAKE SURFACES EASIER TO CLEAN. When selecting paint for high traffic areas, consider semigloss and high-gloss finishes, which are easy to clean. A damp sponge is all you need to clean fingerprints and smudges from your walls. Behr Premium Plus Ultra SemiGloss Enamel paint, for example, forms a protective shell to protect walls against scuffs and marks.

EXAMINE NEW PACKAGING Along with the Lighting Facts label, some manufacturers are going one step further in helping consumers decipher differences in bulbs by changing their packaging. For example, GE Lighting has implemented a color-coding system to help you better understand the light that will be emitted from each bulb. Color selections are modeled after the natural cycle of daylight, from sunrise to sunset. For example, yellow boxes represent bulbs with strong, vibrant light ideal for home cooking, cleaning and grooming, while purple boxes represent subtle and reassuring light for use at night.

ENCOURAGE TOGETHERNESS WITH SAVVY STORAGE. Many parents designate separate play areas to keep clutter out of communal areas. Instead, encourage togetherness by creating storage options in every room of the house. “Clutter is part of family life,” Islas says.“The key thing to remember is to have a place for everything; this means coat hooks for jackets, storage baskets, designated drawers for toys, shelving for books, etc."

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Providing these spaces within children’s reach and close to where they play will encourage children to clean up after themselves. Look for multitasking furniture such as a coffee table with a large surface for playing games together and ample storage underneath to stow toys and remotes when they aren’t needed.

For more tips on finding the light bulb that’s right for your needs, visit www.GELighting.com/lighttransforms. ■

METAL COMMODITIES

Following these easy steps will ensure each room in your home meets your design aesthetic, while still offering maximum functionality fit for the whole family. ■

Source: GE Lighting

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Fall Home & Garden

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Affordable decorating tips to take your home from ho-hum to high style frames along the walls. Add a runner along the length of the floor for a touch of pizzazz. Runners come in a multitude of lengths, patterns and colors — not to mention price ranges. Updating the flooring will keep your feet cozy and help to diminish the sound of footsteps during the night. If you have a space you want to update, but a full room makeover isn’t in your budget, consider an area rug to spruce things up. If the color in your room is dull, the rug can add visual interest and a pop of color, serving as an aesthetically pleasing addition. Area rugs also help to break up the space of a larger room and can add grandeur to a small space. A new rug will also protect your pre-existing carpet, vinyl and hardwood floors, keeping them looking newer, longer.

(ARA) - Feeling uninspired in your space? Updating the decor in your home is an easy way to add more color, style and personality to rejuvenate your residence. Whether you’re making a few updates, like new artwork or wall colors, or renovating an entire room with a completely new look, decorating should be fun, not stressful. With a few simple tips, you can up the design ante in your home without breaking the bank.

OPT FOR ACCENTS AS DESIGN ELEMENTS No home redecorating project is complete without a few perfectly placed accents. These

interesting items stand out from your primary colors and furniture pieces, offering a fresh look to any space. Accent pieces — like chairs, frames or vases — will spice up a monotonous color scheme, while harmonizing with everything else you may already have in a room. Consider a bright beanbag chair for your child’s bedroom, a bold lawn chair on your patio to enthrall while entertaining or a lamp base in a complementary color on your console. Keep in mind accents are meant to speak for themselves; so there’s no need to have another elaborate piece in the room to pair with an accent piece. Just one affordable piece is all it takes. When the redecorating bug bites, embrace the opportunity to freshen up your home inexpensively. With a pinch of creativity and a dash of design inspiration, you can easily make over any space into one that’s perfect for you. ■

DECORATIVE PAINTING FOR DESIGN

Painting can consist of much more than simple strokes of one color. Take things to the next level with decorative painting. Create different patterns on your walls with textured rollers to achieve an artistic design. Sponge and fabric paint rollers provide unique patterns to give your Painting stripes in your room is a refreshing way to update your current color scheme. walls a one-of-a-kind look. Low in price and tional framed pieces of artwork aren’t your high in design, using textured rollers is a great only option anymore. Instead, create an eclecoption for redecorating on a budget. tic art piece with plates you already own, or Painting stripes in your room is a refreshing find them at garage sales and antique stores. way to update your current color scheme. A Opt for various sizes and shapes and attach sequence of wide and narrow stripes in comeach one to your wall with plate hooks. You plementing colors is a stylish option. To can cover an entire wall, or focus on a smaller achieve crisp, clean lines between each stripe, area — but before you get started, be sure to FrogTape brand painter’s tape will get the job lay out your design on the floor first. This way, done. The patented PaintBlock Technology you’ll achieve your desired look, without extra applied to the edges of FrogTape helps prevent nail holes on the wall from hanging as you go. paint bleed, leaving precise lines and keeping PERK-UP HALLWAYS WITH RUNNERS; ROOMS the transition between your colors looking WITH RUGS sharp.

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Fall Home & Garden

Sunday, September 30, 2012

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