Home Solutions 2010

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Longmont Times-Call Publication

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September 9 & 15, 2010

Moveable wall mounts offer versatility Make your new house feel like home Alternative headboards spice up the bedroom Energy efficient tips for winter Stripes transform a room Make ceiling fans work for you Create an efficient office space

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Transform your bathroom Fast, frugal fall fix-ups Take care of your fall lawn and garden Inspire learning, creativity in kids’ rooms Hang pictures like a professional Decorating with collections Add warmth to the home Arrange furniture effectively Update the kitchen with painted cabinets Create your own photo wall Be safe when cleaning gutters Choosing the right hardwood flooring Conquer clutter in the home Pick a rug that will floor you Get the perfect paint finish Prepare for cooler weather Equipping the man cave Discover which mattress works best Update the laundry room

Kristi Ritter Specialty Publications Editor kkritter@times-call.com, 303-684-5275 Summer Stair Specialty Publications Associate Editor sstair@times-call.com, 720-494-5429 Contributing Writers Kate Frasure, Ali Wald, Kendall Schoemann Cover Design Teena Craighill Check out more online at www.timescall.com/magazines.asp

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September 9 & 15, 2010

Longmont Times-Call Publication

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Moveable wall mounts ideal for flat screen TVs

More than one new, flat-panel-TV owner has joyfully mounted his new prized possession – either on the wall or a console – only to discover that the image doesn’t look right when he sits in his favorite chair. He’s a victim of viewing angle challenges, a problem that can confine TV viewing to a tiny zone, directly in front of the LCD TV. While costlier plasma TVs rarely pose viewing angle problems, if you’ve ever tried to view a less costly LCD TV from a 70 or 80 degree angle, you’ve probably seen picture degradation. LCD TVs are often more costeffective, allowing you to purchase a larger screen for less money, and can offer an exceptional picture when viewed from straight on, but the nature of the technology means the picture will be of a lower quality if viewed from an angle.

One solution, of course, is to arrange your seating so you are only ever viewing the image from directly in front of the TV. However, this may not always be practical in smaller rooms or areas like a bedroom, where you may not have available wall space

directly in front of the bed.

Movable wall mounts are a better solution, flat screen experts report. Fortunately, there are many options for wall mounting a TV that will allow you to adjust the viewing angle. A movable mount can help you optimize picture quality, so you’re getting the most out of your expensive investment.

Plus, modern movable mounts are made with aesthetics in mind, so you can be sure to find a mount that fits your needs and your decor.

Options for movable wall mounts include: • Full-motion mounts – These mounts extend, tilt and swivel in all directions.

Place your LCD TV on a full-motion mount and you’ll be able to view your TV from multiple positions in a room – whether it’s the sofa directly in front of the TV, or your favorite recliner in the far corner of the room. Sanus Systems manufactures a fullmotion wall mount that fits 42- to 63-inch flat panels and extends nearly 26 inches from the wall on dual extension arms for added strength. A slightly different version

Make your new house feel like home Article Resource Association

You know that moving into a new home can be one of life’s biggest stressors – the packing, the paperwork, the unpacking and more. There are many ways to make your new house feel like home sooner than later, according to interior design faculty at The Art Institutes.

“Incorporating items with personal meaning, such as memorabilia or a special

collection, can make your new place feel less like a stranger’s house and more like your home,” says Annette Lawrence, academic director of the Interior Design program at The Art Institute of Ohio-Cincinnati. Lawrence describes the concept of “adaptive re-use,” an easy, inexpensive way to create a sense of place – in other words, making your new house the place in which you feel most comfortable – home.

allows the TV to extend 28 inches from the wall and hides cables within the arm.

• Tilting mounts – Mounts like the VisionMount LT25 can fit flat screens up to 60 inches wide and allow you to position and reposition the TV after it’s mounted. Tilting mounts are a great solution if you would like to watch your flat screen while you’re laying flat on a bed. They also help reduce glare from lights and windows.

• Motorized mounts – A remote control allows you to move these fully automated mounts from anywhere in the room, making it easy to achieve the perfect viewing angle for a variety of seating areas. You can preset

the mount to move the TV to a selected position when you turn on the TV, or you can use the remote to position the TV as desired.

Sanus makes a motorized full-motion wall mount that extends 12 inches from the wall and fits TVs 40 to 63 inches in size. A decorative cover conceals cables and hardware.

An ultra quiet version extends 9 inches from the wall and provides, quiet, smooth movement. Motorized tilting mounts are also available.

Movable wall mounts mean there’s more reason than ever to wall mount your flat panel. These mounts allow you to adjust the viewing angle to ensure maximum visibility.

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Adaptive re-use involves bringing items from your previous residence to your new home, but with the twist of adapting them for a different or new use. Adaptive re-use is affordable, ecologically responsible and helps ease the psychological stresses that come with moving into a new, unfamiliar space. Adaptive re-use also involves using items from local design consignment shops.

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Some examples of adaptive re-use: • Same item, same use – The entry rug from your old house goes in the entryway of the new house.

• Same item, different location – Your living room furniture from your old home becomes your family room furniture in your new place.

• Same item, new use – You use the fabric from a window treatment to upholster your dining room chairs.

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September 9 & 15, 2010

Headboard options can be endless, whether a person decides to go with canvas, art or other ideas. The top photo depicts a large canvas headboard. Above left, the canvas headboard has been embossed with sewing details. (Thinkstock) Above right, wrought iron medallions make a unique headboard option. (Courtesy Catherine Young Interiors)

Overhead Spice up the bedroom with an alternative headboard

By Ali Wald Longmont Times-Call

The freedom of creativity and visuals a person can add to a room with an alternative headboard is amazing. They’re often more economical than the standard headboard.

The ideas for alternative headboards are endless. Play around with ideas and think about the materials you want to use before creating your headboard. Here are a few ideas to get you thinking about what type of alternative headboard will look good in the bedroom.

Large Medallions and Architectural Remnants In order to create an alternative headboard, the scale and style of the particular bedroom is important. If the bed is large, a bigger headboard will look best.

“Larger wrought iron medallions work well,” says Helly Duncan, a designer at Design Matters Home in Louisville. “They have a nice large scale and provide texture to the room.”

Depending on how much wall space you have, you can potentially use two side-by-side, or center three of them. Catherine Young of Catherine Young Interior Design in Niwot suggests trying to find architectural remnants. “You can get some old double hung windows, and take out the glass and replace it with some kind of acrylic,” she says.

Canvases An easy and economical alternative headboard can be made using canvas and fabric. Duncan says this is fast and easy. Simply find fabric you like and stretch the material over the canvas and secure it with either strong glue or a staple gun.

“Buy one large canvas or a few

small ones and piece them together based on the size needed,” Duncan says. By doing this you have a lot of flexibility because you can choose the color and texture. If your room is on the plain side and you want to add some spice to it, pick a patterned material.

Instead of using fabric, Young suggests painting the canvas or covering it with a remnant of wall paper instead of putting fabric on it.

Photos Try blowing up black and white photos and clustering them together. This will create a photograph headboard and it’s a great way to display your pictures. Use pictures of any kind, family and friends, nature or city skylines.

Window Treatments Window treatments can also be easily made into an alternative headboard. There can be a lot of flexibility when using a window treatment, just by playing with them and using tiebacks, according to Duncan. The treatments can also be hung from different objects. “Go out in nature and get palm fronds to hang the treatments from,” Young says.

Window treatments are a fun alternative headboard because you can constantly change them out with the season.

Table Tops Thinking out of the box is important, so you might try a tabletop for your next headboard.

“Start thinking about the tops of things,” Young says. “Maybe it’s an ugly base, but a great top.”

Many great table tops can be found at rummage sales and second hand stores, and then mounted to the wall.

September 9 & 15, 2010

Longmont Times-Call Publication

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Ensure home efficiency Longmont Times-Call

Fall and winter’s cool season temperatures can put a chill throughout the home, making some homeowners and renters adjust their thermostats. But the turn of the dial upward also means soaring energy bills that will put a damper on the warm, cozy feeling throughout the home. Now is the time to make sure your home is in shape for the upcoming season by taking steps to conserve energy and keep the savings in your pocket.

By far the largest use of energy is in heating the home, according to Shelly Hays, Longmont Power & Communications marketing analyst. Most homes in Longmont are heated by gas, but for those who are using electric heat, Hays asks customers to call LPC for a review of their electric usage. “We’ll work with them directly to find the best rate structure for them depending on their usage habits.”

No matter what type of heat you use to warm your home, here are some general tips from Hays that will help save on your heat bill.

• Turn the thermostat down when you’re not at home or sleeping.

• Install a programmable thermostat.

This will not only help in lowering your bills, but it automates everything so you don’t have to worry about adjusting the temperature.

• Close off rooms that are not in use, or at least close the registers in those rooms.

• Open window coverings to east and south facing windows during the day to help naturally heat the home. Then at

New program coming Shelly Hays, marketing analyst for Longmont Power & Communications, says LPC will be launching a new suite of no-cost online tools designed to help residents become more energy efficient.

Designed for home use, these electronic subscription-based tools will offer all types of tips on home energy use specific to Longmont consumers. Some of the elements included are: • A residential eNewsletter called LPC’s PowerOutlet delivered to your e-mail each month will include tips and information on heating, insulation, appliance profiles and home lighting.

• eCalculator – several calculators that consumers can use to gauge their home energy use, including appliances and heating and cooling systems.

• eLibrary – more than 150 documents that will address all kinds of elements for the home.

• money saving quick tips For more information about this exciting new program, watch for upcoming news and registration information at www.ci.longmont.co.us/lpc.

night, make sure to shut up the coverings to keep cold air out.

• When running your clothes dryer, open the door to the room to keep that air in your home.

• Use the stove to cook when you can to help heat your home. And even when you’re done, open the door and let the heat escape into the room.

Besides the heater in your home, windows are another element of energy loss in a home. For older windows, Hays says replacement will take a long time to recoup the investment cost of new windows with costs so high.

However, a good short-term resolution is to purchase plastic window kits and seal them up during the window to ward off leaks. This will keep the inside of the home much warmer and draft free. Hays also recommends that caulking be replaced around windows to ensure leaks are sealed. This is an easy do-it-yourself project that homeowners can tackle.

With tips to ensure better energy efficiency at home, Hays says to always have the furnace serviced annually for the best safety and efficiency. And don’t forget to replace the furnace filter monthly. It will help with efficiency in maintaining your home.

Longmont Power & Communications offers low-cost energy audits to Longmont customers.

This year-round service will give homeowners a list and plan for becoming more efficient. Visit www.ci.longmont.co.us/lpc and click on Low Cost Energy Audits.

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September 9 & 15, 2010

Stripe It

Designs add flare to room

By Summer Stair Longmont Times-Call

Revamping a room can make it feel new and fresh, especially when a room’s design has become stagnant. So step outside the box and make it extraordinary this time around by incorporating stripes in your design.

Helly Duncan, principle designer for Design Matters Home in Louisville, says stripes can be fun to add to a room because it allows a person to customize the look. If used right, stripes can add drama, create a focal point and are a great way to add color and dimension to a room.

Stripes can be added to a room in a variety of ways, including pillows, paint, window coverings, area rugs, accessories and even flooring. Homeowners can even create drama and interest by layering similar stripes by combining wallpaper and a simple, small chair in the same stripe against the wall, Duncan says.

According to Duncan, different angles of stripes can also affect the way a room is viewed.

• Vertical wall stripes – Vertical stripes are by far the safest choice, therefore making them the most popular. They often give the feeling of a more spacious room, by making the ceilings appear taller. Optimal width of a vertical stripe is 6 inches.

• Horizontal wall stripes – Horizontal stripes offer a more casual look to a room. They also trick

Make ceiling fans work for you Metro Services

It would seem the ceiling fan is the bane of a designer’s existence, especially if one lends credence to television’s slew of interior designers. When such designers prepare to overhaul a room, the ceiling fan is often the first item to go.

Although there are certainly ceiling fans that aren’t the ideal decorating centerpiece, are they all an eyesore? Most people would agree not. Plus, ceiling fans can provide an invaluable service in the home; they can help moderate a room’s temperature whether it is winter or summer and use less energy for heating and cooling.

Whether homeowners love or hate ceiling fans, there are ways to develop a relationship of compromise with the whirling wonder. Consider these design tips for working with fans.

• Explore the different fan options.

Ceiling fan designs of today are not what they used to be. For those installing or replacing a ceiling fan, choose a sleek style that matches the wood trims in the home. Or consider a fan that simply fades into the background and is not a focal point at all.

• Swap out the bulbs and shades.

Part of what makes many ceiling fans unsightly are the bulbs and coverings on the bulbs. These may be floral or frosted glass. Generally country in style, ceiling fans clash with many homeowners’ styles. One can purchase replacement bulbs and shades if the goal is to simply make the fan look better without a major replacement.

• Blades and brass. Many homes are outfitted with ceiling fans reminiscent of the 1980s. That means they could be full of brass accents and blades that feature designs or inlaid bamboo patch-

work. Whatever the case, these looks do not blend in with today’s more upscale styles. Disassemble the fan, replacing the blades and simply spray painting the hardware to cover up the gaudiness of brass.

• Loud and proud. If it’s the noise generated from the ceiling fan that is more of a nuisance than its look, it may be time to replace the fan. There could be a mechanical problem or the ceiling fan might be coated with accumulated dust. The fan should not detract from a person’s quality of life.

• Dangling eyesore. The pull chains for a ceiling fan can be distracting and unsightly. Many fans now come with remote controls, eliminating the need for pull strings. Also, a homeowner can consider eliminating existing strings and simply use a light switch to control the fan.

the eye by making the room appear larger and the ceiling lower, Duncan says. Optimal width is 12 inches.

• Diagonal wall stripes – When applied to a wall diagonal stripes often provide the illusion of movement.

Duncan recommends keeping the stripes to just an accent wall. The optimal width depends on the size of the room. A good rule of thumb is the larger the room, the larger the stripe. Stripes of equal length are classic, while two to three different sized stripes add more interest to the design.

Once you know the style and look you are going for narrow in on a design and color(s) you plan on using. Duncan recommends not putting stripes on the whole wall, but below a chair rail, at eye level or up near the ceiling. As far as choosing a color, selecting similar instead of contrasting is an easy and safe route, she says. “Light colors are elegant and unobtrusive, where darker stripes add drama and character making a room feel more enclosed,” Duncan says.

And how do you get the right balance in a room.

“It is like accessorizing when you get dressed.

A small amount is better than too much,” Duncan says. “Think about where you want the stripes, then take it down a notch to make sure that you are not overdoing it.”

September 9 & 15, 2010

Longmont Times-Call Publication

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Office Space Creating an office for those who work from home

By Kate Frasure Longmont Times-Call

When Lori King started working from her Longmont home in 1996, little did she know it would eventually morph into permanently working out of her basement office. Thanks to today’s mobility of computers and cellular phones, more people are working from the comfort of their own home. But even with all the conveniences, it is important to create a comfortable and efficient work space. “Don’t just set up anywhere,� says King, an information technology specialist for IBM. Before she moved to her basement office, she used an extra desk in a spare bedroom. But in using this space, she did have to be more flexible about her kids coming in and out of the room. Eventually, King moved into the basement office that was well equipped with a comfy desk chair, spacious desk and filing space. With a few of her own decor touches and a La-Z-Boy chair, she settled into comfort to work from home.

Professional organizing consultant Tonya Nauman says it is important to utilize what you have around the house when creating an office space. But she keeps in mind the two major issues in creating a home office –

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Lori King’s home office in Longmont is designed not only designed for comfort and organization, but also has her own unique features that make it her own, such as built-in bookshelves that hold her collection of sewing machines, rock collections, books and family portraits, to name a few. As a talented quilter, King’s home office also features some of her artful quilting on her walls.

Another unique feature to King’s home office is her comfortable recliner where she does most of her work from. (Paul Litman/Times-Call)

clutter and organizing paper flow. “My two rules that I always stick by when getting started with organizing are ‘no sifting’ and ‘ask yourself,’�

Nauman says.

Her “no sifting� rule pertains to going through paperwork and making the decision to keep it or throw it to avoid the hassle of having all that paperwork come back to haunt you later. Nauman’s “ask yourself� rule pushes you to question whether you will rummage through paperwork to find something or jump online and find it.

Nauman is a big believer in using baskets to help paper flow. “The basic idea is to have some sort of container, spot, drawer or folder for unopened mail, paperwork

that needs to be reviewed, bills to be paid, papers to be filed and so on.�

King tries to save paper and filing when possible, by storing documents and notes on her computer. However, both King and Nauman advise having a back-up system in place. “If a company offers automatic back-up, take it,� King says.

One of the most crucial aspects both women advise is to separate work from home life. Setting specific work times and making sure not to do household chores is important. King says she shuts the door to her office and goes into the other rooms to do some of her hobbies. “You have to draw that line,� she says.

Plug in to LPC’s PowerOutlet

Longmont Power & Communications, the community’s local electric provider, will launch new on-line efficiency tools in early October that offer customers countless resources to help make their homes more efficient and stay plugged in to conservation.

LPC’s PowerOutlet - a monthly newsletter covering seasonal topics as they relate to efficiency, new and emerging technologies and much more news about the Longmont community, the region and the nation that will be delivered directly to your e-mailbox.

The free web service will be easily accessible through LPC’s web pages and will highlight loads of energy savings and electric service information.

eCalculators allow customers to compare heating and cooling systems as well as track home energy use, carbon footprint and appliances’ energy use.

eLibrary with countless documents includes segments on home comfort (heating, cooling, insulation and weatherization), appliance profiles, lighting, home safety, energy in outdoor spaces, green living and energy resources.

- two to three line suggestions offering ways to improve efficiency and conservation bottom line.

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Register for LPC’s PowerOutlet at the our web site by clicking on the

! " # in early October!

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Longmont Times-Call Publication

September 9 & 15, 2010

Bathroom Makeover Plan out your remodel project for a bathroom of envy

By Kristi Ritter Longmont Times-Call

As one of the most used rooms in a home, remodeling a bathroom with creative design and decor will give you a new, sophisticated look to your bathroom.

But, before you begin to rip out the vanity and take a paint brush to the walls, it’s essential that you take some time to plan out your project. With the proper planning, updating a bathroom with a new vanity, fixtures, paint and accessories can be completed in a weekend.

Cynthia Erickson, a Longmont-based interior designer with more than 25 years of experience, says planning for a bathroom remodel takes a lot of forethought to make sure the elements chosen will lend to the overall look and feel of the room.

“Sketch out where you want things and how they will look in your space,” she says. “Consider the color and style of everything and how they will all look together.”

But knowing where to begin in the process can be a little overwhelming.

Choose one item and design your space from that item. For instance, if you find a new vanity that you absolutely must have, use it as the foundation for your design and select fixtures, colors and accessories that compliment it. Or, if you have your heart set on a particular color for the walls, start there and build your room around that shade.

Before you jump into your design inspiration, Erickson advises you to consider your home’s style and value. The neighborhood may also play a part in determining your new design, because you don’t want to out price your home for the area. Also keep the future in mind to make sure you are updating your space with a design and elements that can evolve throughout the years and still be classy and sophisticated.

If you’re ready to change out that boring bathroom for a new design, here are some tips you’ll want to consider.

Color A new shade on the walls can completely change the feel of your bathroom.

And with paint as a pretty inexpensive way to update any room, dive into the color chips. But before you get too deep in color, try it out in your space.

“People mess up on paint more than any other element in their homes,” Erickson says. “And because so many people are accustomed to white, any color added is a drastic change.”

Compared to years ago, people are becoming more daring with color in their homes. So once you decide on a shade, Erickson suggests to go with the shade lighter on the swatch because it will always appear darker on the wall.

Also, spend your pennies on a sample can to paint a 1 foot square on several walls in your bathroom space. Live with it for three to seven days, and watch how the color changes in different lighting conditions. It will give you a realistic idea of how the paint will look.

Paint also doesn’t have to cover every wall in your bathroom. You might try Continued on 9

Planning for a bathroom update takes some time to make sure elements match and blend well. Here, interior designer Cynthia Erickson designed a before, top, and after bathroom to show how easy changes such as paint, a shower curtain, towel bar, vanity, sink, toilet and lighting can completely change the look of a space. With proper planning, these changes can even be done in a weekend. (Courtesy Cynthia Erickson)

September 9 & 15, 2010

Longmont Times-Call Publication

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Embark on fast, frugal fall fix-ups Article Resource Association

The ebbing sun and dropping mercury in the garden thermometer signal the end of summer. The shorter, cooler days also mean you might be coming back inside from the great outdoors to discover your home could use a little pizazz. After all, you spent the past few months soaking up the rays while you worked and played in your yard rather than inside the house.

It takes only a few quick fixes, combined with some creativity and elbow grease, to transform the rooms where you spend most of your time. In a weekend or less, you can make your home go from stale to striking for the fall season ahead.

Not all home decorating ideas require a great deal of time or money but can transform a tired-looking room into something truly eye-catching. “Sometimes all it takes is one or two small changes to completely transform a space,” says Christopher Prebel of Pratt & Lambert Paints. “You’d be surprised how even the tiniest updates really make a difference.”

Study your foyer, for starters. It’s the first thing guests see when they enter your home. What can you do to make it more inviting? Maybe it needs a little more color. Add a colorful rug to the entry way and maybe a floral arrangement to the console by the front door. Or maybe less clutter? A small storage bench can reduce clutter – shoes, school bags and sports equipment – to a minimum and add a clean, inviting look to this first-impression space.

If your house is like any other, the kitchen is likely the other main gathering place for both family and visiting friends. These high-traffic areas usually can use fresh paint more frequently than other rooms.

Continued from 8 a couple of walls in a lighter shade, and then kick it up to a darker shade for the other walls. It’ll add a nice contrast to the space.

“The bathroom is a great place to play with color or try a unique finish,” Erickson says.

A bathroom may also be a great place to install wainscoting or molding to break up spaces with one color above and another below. And don’t limit yourself to wood molding, try metal or tile.

Vanity, Sinks & Fixtures Updating a bathroom vanity is an easy task for any homeowner to do. Just make sure you have a level and square in your toolbox to make for easy installation.

With today’s selection of vanities in about any finish and style, finding the perfect one that defines your space may take some time.

Home improvement stores offer a little of everything, from traditional vanities with

Paint companies have teamed up with your favorite local paint dealers to make color selection nearly effortless. Most dealers now offer hundreds of color strips in sophisticated displays and some even offer actual paint samples – 2-ounce containers of paint tinted in popular colors so you can take it home and try it without the long-term commitment of buying a gallon or more.

Next, what about your living room? Is it too austere?

Does it sit unused? While it might be out of your budget to change the furniture, you can warm it up and make it a space where people want to sit and visit by getting rid of those outdated window treatments. Dress windows with light blinds or sheer curtains that provide privacy but allow light to filter through. You might

storage space to pedestal sinks. Remember, your vanity style will also want to blend with your sink and fixture style.

“Vessel sinks have hit mass markets now, making them readily available and more cost effective for the average homeowner,” Erickson says. “And while they won’t appeal to everyone, they offer a very unique look.”

When it comes to selecting a fixture for your new sink, the most popular finish today is steel and nickel.

When you’re ready to install everything, take an extra minute and re-measure everything. There’s no redos if you cut the sink hole too large.

If you know how to do the plumbing yourself, take charge. But if you’re a little more timid about taking on that responsibility, hire a professional or ask a friend.

Mirrors & Lighting Above that flashy new vanity you’re installing, a new mirror and lighting will finish off the look.

also want to rearrange the furniture into a grouping that’s less formal and more inviting.

Chances are, your family thinks your family room is pretty great, but even your favorite lounging space always can use a little upgrading to keep it modern, fun and welcoming. One easy change for this often-used space is new throw pillows. Add a splash of fresh color simply by swapping out pillows on couches and chairs or adding a nook of colorful floor pillows for family members who prefer to sprawl on the floor to watch TV and play video games. Or, if you feel your sofa looks tired and worn out, invest in a new slipcover to bring a fresh look to the room and transform your old sofa into something new and special.

In many newer homes today, wall-sized mirrors are traditionally installed above the vanity. And while they might give plenty of room for the entire family to get ready, they lack personal style. There are a couple of things you can do to update this look. If the mirror isn’t glued or permanently attached to the wall, remove it and select a new mirror that fits nicely above your vanity.

Erickson says to select one that is as wide as your vanity. But, if that large mirror isn’t going anywhere, you can give it a little more style by adding a frame. Picture and crown moldings work great to give your mirror a new look, and you can easily install them right on top of the mirror edge. Paint or stain them to match your room.

Once you figure out a new mirror or revamp your existing one, switch your focus to the lighting fixture above you. Like the mirror, Erickson says to choose one that is as wide as your new vanity. And always

choose one in the same finish as your fixtures for a cohesive look.

Accessorize With a new vanity, sink, mirror, lighting and color splashed on the walls, your bathroom remodel won’t be complete until you accessorize. Choose towel bars and toilet paper holders in the same finish as your fixtures.

A new shower curtain will also add to the makeover. Take your time in choosing the perfect style and color for your bathroom, whether you select a traditional curtain or splurge for a double layer look. And don’t forget new hooks to finish off the look.

To complete your makeover, add artwork, photographs, candles, flowers and soaps – whatever suits your fancy and compliments your space. These little touches will help define your space and make it feel like part of your home. Then sit back and enjoy your remodeled bathroom.

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Longmont Times-Call Publication

September 9 & 15, 2010

Rejuvenate your lawn Article Resource Association

As summer winds down, heat and drought may have left your grass a little tired. Soccer, picnics and chasing fireflies have likely taken a toll. Luckily, because of cooler temperatures and an increase in precipitation, fall is the best time for lawn rescue.

1. Lush green grass doesn’t just feel good between the toes, it also helps crowd out undesirables. Bare and thin spots provide an opportunity for weeds to get a foot-hold on your lawn, but repairing these troubled areas is quick and easy. To fill in bare patches in a smaller area, apply Scotts EZ Seed, an all-in-one seeding mix, fertilizer and mulch, that takes the guess work out of seeding, and visibly shows when to water by lightening in color.

2. Be sure to feed your grass. Use compost, an organic or conventional lawn food – avoid all-purpose fertilizers labeled for gardening on your grass. So-called all-purpose 10-10-10 fertilizer is specifically designed for the nutritional needs of flowers and vegetables and will deliver 10 times more phosphorus than your lawn needs. Always use fertilizers labeled for grass; and when in doubt, ask the experts at your local garden center or visit www.Scotts.com.

3. Well-fed grass isn’t just good-looking, but also vigorous. Compared to undernourished grass, a fed lawn needs less water each year and reduces noise, run-off and erosion. In early fall, feeding is a simple step, which can be repeated about a month to six weeks later.

4. Leaves are your lawn’s best friend. This fall, use your lawnmower to mulch leaves into dime-sized pieces, then top with winter lawn food made especially to help leaves recycle back into the soil providing food for earthworms and soil microbes.

5. Keep your mower on the highest setting to encourage root growth deep into the soil to lock out weeds. Keep mowing your lawn to its summer height (about 3 or more inches) until it stops growing.

Get growing on your fall garden Article Resource Association

You might think the end of summer means bidding farewell to fresh, homegrown veggies. Not so – many cool-season crops hit their heyday as autumn temperatures drop, and some even taste better when nipped by a light frost.

In most regions of the country, gardeners plant fall vegetables in September for harvest in November.

You’ll need to carefully calculate your growing season so you can ensure plants have time to produce before freezing weather arrives. Generally, you should plant fall vegetables when daytime temperatures range between 60 and 80 degrees (the cooler the better); night temperatures should be above 40 degrees, and you’ll need enough sunshine to ensure plants will get at least six hours of sun per day.

You’ll also need to give plants at least an inch of water per week.

To get started, remove all the debris left over from your summer garden so fall crops have plenty of room to grow. Add compost to your garden beds and landscapes. Soil should be light, well-aerated and well-draining since fall gardens are more likely to get soggy from rain. Mulch will keep the soil cool and moist during the last days of summer.

You can also mix in an all natural fertilizer such as Bonnie Plants, Herb and Vegetable Plant Food, made from soybean oilseed extract, known to contain 150,000 nutritional and organic compounds that include vitamins, minerals, amino acids and

Some fall crops actually taste better when nipped by a touch of frost. Top: Growing fall crops in raised beds can help protect tender plants from frost damage. (ARA)

proteins, enzymes, plant hormones and carbohydrates. All are vital to plant growth. Next, find out your local frost and freeze dates. For most areas, frost doesn’t have to end the fall growing season. Monitor your local weather forecast during late September and early October so you know when frost is coming.

Once you know your local frost and freeze dates, you can begin planning and planting your fall garden.

Remember, when growing vegetables in the fall, plants need to be in the ground in time to mature before the first frost, and to yield most of their harvest before the first heavy freeze.

Some cool-season crops mature in as little as 30 to 40 days, while others may take several months to produce.

Since time is of the essence when planting a fall garden, start out with transplants that are already growing.

Choose fast-maturing varieties, like Bonnie Plants, to get the most for your harvest. The gardening experts at Bonnie suggest these fall crops: • Winterbor kale – This vigorous producer weathers winter easily, even in cold climates. Cut outer leaves so that the center can continue growing.

Space transplants about 12 inches apart • Georgia collards – Another leafy green similar to kale, Georgia collards are prized for their sweet, cabbagelike flavor. Space transplants 36 inches apart.

• Romaine lettuce – Romaine packs more vitamins, minerals, fiber and phytonutrients than other popular types of lettuce. Space transplants 18 inches apart.

• Early dividend broccoli – Popular, productive and easy to grow, this broccoli is high in fiber and calcium.

Set transplants 18 inches apart.

• Mustard greens – Offering spicy hot leaves, this is a fast-growing, nutritious vegetable. Mustard greens always taste sweeter when nipped by frost. Space plants 12 inches apart.

• Bonnie hybrid cabbage – Bonnie’s best cabbage is high in beta-carotene, vitamins C and K, and fiber. Space transplants 24 inches apart.

• Arugula – These fast-growing leafy greens are super-food for your bones. The leaves are nutrient dense and low in calories. Leaves grow best in cool weather.

September 9 & 15, 2010

Longmont Times-Call Publication

Create a kids room that inspires learning

Hang pictures like a pro

Article Resource Association

As the cold weather approaches, kids spend less time outdoors burning off all that wonderful energy. The change in weather also means that everyone, including you, spends more time indoors. Don’t worry. There’s an easy and inexpensive way to turn any room into an environment that fosters your child’s learning and creativity. What’s even better: You are likely to think, “it’s too quiet in there,� while the kids play intently in their new space. “Teachers know what the research confirms: Color, space and clutter can have a dramatic effect on a child’s attitudes and behaviors. It can also affect their imagination, creativity and ability to learn,� says PaintIdeas.com blogger Angie Stinner. “Fortunately, creating a soothing environment that helps kids learn and grow is easy. It’s also the perfect project to bring parents and children together for a weekend of fun. All you need is a little paint and some inspiration.�

Here are a few tips for creating the perfect area for learning and fun. • Inspire creativity. When turning up the creativity in a child’s room, a good place to start is the walls. Research reveals that painting a room in the colors of nature – light green or warm teal – can inspire creativity, as well as create a calm learning environment that promotes a positive state of mind. Light blue (the color of academics) or light pink or rose, are good colors too, especially for active children who need a calming environment to focus.

Before painting, apply three thin coats of

Rust-Oleum Magnetic Primer. It transforms any wall into a surface that attracts magnets, so kids can hang their favorite photos, artwork or school papers without tape or push pins. Add a few funky magnets, but not too many. Too much clutter can be distracting and have a negative impact on focus and creativity. • Let them write on the walls (or doors or dresser drawers). Educators recognize that giving kids a space to express their creativity or just think out loud is an important component of the learning process. Instead of creating paper clutter or buying a chalk or dry erase board, why not paint a wall, door or dresser drawers with Rust-Oleum chalkboard or dry erase paint.

Chalkboard paint comes in black, green and a tint base where you can choose from fun colors such as periwinkle or raspberry. Both

11

chalkboard and dry erase paint can be applied over existing paint and instantly turn any surface into a space for math problems, poetry or homework assignments. It’s also great for leaving messages or subtle reminders, like, “time to clean your room.â€? • Create a space to work. You don’t have to spend a fortune to give your child the perfect workspace for studying and homework assignments. You can transform a flea market desk – or repurpose a table and chair you already own – with a little spray paint.

Try Rust-Oleum Ultra Cover 2X. It’s available in popular colors and offers twice the coverage of competitive general purpose spray paint. Coordinate by spray painting a bookcase, some picture frames – even the bed’s headboard – to add a little more color to the room. The possibilities are endless.

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Dressing up rooms is easily achieved by hanging artwork on the walls. However, hanging them at the right height, ensuring they’re straight and avoiding errant holes in the walls can prove more challenging than many would like to admit.

Here are some pointers to keep in mind when hanging pictures on the wall. • Try grouping four pictures together in a square or rectangle to create the illusion of one larger picture. • Always hang pictures at eye-level. • When hanging a picture or artwork over the sofa, only leave a few inches so the picture is the focal point. • Keep scale in mind. • Consider the use of similarly hued picture frames to lend a cohesive look. • When hanging art over a piece of furniture, it should not be longer than the width of the furniture. • Pull colors from the furniture and other decor so that photos or artwork coordinate with the design. • Think about illuminating the artwork. • Use an art shelf to display photos and other knick-knacks. • Pictures can be hung diagonally going up a staircase. • Hanging pictures vertically gives an air of refinement and looks good next to a doorway. – Metro Services

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Whether it is your grandma’s display of decorative spoons or your dad’s extensive quantity of vinyl albums, collections all have a few things in common. They usually have sentimental value to the collector, each one has a story and there tends to be a lot of them.

While you may want to display your collection, it is often hard to avoid a cluttered look.

There is a way to show off your cherished treasures in an appealing and stylish setting.

Linda Morell, owner of Morell Linda Interiors in Longmont, says collections can either be a special addition to a home or obnoxious clutter.

“Collections as possessions become a part of your life and enrich a home, but they become an enemy if they end up looking cluttered,” she says.

Morell has worked with a myriad of collections, such as buttons, dolls, trains, butterflies, African masks, shoes and art.

For any collection, the most important thing to keep in mind is only display the collection pieces you love the most.

For those who cannot play favorites, try dividing your collection in half, and display each for half the year. In doing this, your collection stays new and fresh and can even be coordinated to change with the seasons.

According to Morell, everyone’s definition of clutter is different, but when you can’t see the forest through the trees, enough is enough.

Once you have decided how much of your collection you will

display, organize it by grouping like items and similar sizes together. This is most aesthetically pleasing for the human eye and makes your collection a focal point.

Once properly grouped, you can choose to display the collection in a bookcase, hallway, niche or on the wall.

While a display should be creative and adaptive to the home, there are things it should always have. Your collection should be well lit and well seen. If you are attempting to display thimbles on a large bookshelf, try stacking them on books or boxes. Also, wall hangings can achieve a unique look when hung at varying heights.

The smaller a collection, the harder it is to make it stand out.

Try incorporating it into something larger. For example, take your postcard collection and display them in a glass coffee table.

Clocks can be set to different time zones to create a world clock wall and movie posters can be framed in a TV room with other cinema paraphernalia to create a home movie theater look.

Big, small, old or new, your collection can be a special part of your home with the right display technique.

September 9 & 15, 2010

Longmont Times-Call Publication

13

Furniture arranging 101

Add warmth to your home Article Resource Association

Just as animals use the fall to prepare for winter, now’s the perfect time to transform your home into a cozy nest where your family and friends will love to gather.

Ginny Bean, publisher of Ginny’s catalog, suggests the following simple decorating touches to add seasonal warmth.

• Put out the welcome mat – literally.

Make visitors feel welcome from the moment they step through your door. Decorate your front door with a seasonal ac-

cent and an attractive mat.

• A crackling fire naturally draws people to it. Rearrange your furniture to create a conversation area around your hearth. If your home doesn’t have a builtin fireplace, there are a number of attractive electric fireplaces on the market that provide warmth with no mess or outside vent. Some even hang right on the wall.

• Light the candles. Choose candlesticks in metallics (gold is popular now) or in warm colors. For a unique look when entertaining, Bean suggests making your own votives from apples or gourds with a votive carver.

• Bring the beauty of outside, in. Add richness to your home by using fall’s palette of warm colors. Select fabrics and accessories in warm shades of browns, reds, oranges and yellows. Increase the feeling of coziness by adding layers – think table runners on top of cloths or rugs over carpets – and texture in the form of nubby throws and pillows scattered throughout the room.

• Drape your home in warmth. Now is

also the time to replace the summer sheers for more substantial curtains, which can keep out drafts and add color and texture to a room. For added energy savings, check out the variety of thermal window treatments available.

• Think back to black. A touch of black can add sophistication to your home decor. Use it sparingly though, perhaps in a few picture frames, a ceramic vase or a throw or pillows, because too much black can make the room look dreary.

• Continue the theme with decorative accents inspired by nature. Brighten the mantel with a swag of fall flowers and leaves or use artificial flowers to make your own autumn centerpiece. Bean likes to use mums or natural dried grass in unexpected containers like baskets, terra cotta pots or chipped china pitchers or bowls. Scatter a few gourds, ceramic pumpkins or a leaf-shaped accent piece throughout the room to complete the look.

When presented with an empty room in a new home or apartment, most people are a bit apprehensive about where to start. It can be difficult to picture where to place a sofa or how to arrange a chaise lounge.

Although interior decorators may seem to have the knack for knowing where to place furniture, arranging items that are already owned or new furniture is something just about anyone can master.

Before furniture can be placed, certain questions should be answered and room layouts examined. Consider the following: • Is the room used to travel through to another room? If so, a pathway will need to be left so that walking unhindered is possible.

• Where are the doors and windows located?

Furniture should not be placed where it can interfere with a door being opened or block light.

• How is the room used? For example, furniture shouldn’t be placed in a family room so individuals constantly have to walk past the television and block watchers’ views. If a room is used as a sitting space, furniture should be geared around bookshelves or a fireplace.

• What space is available? Too much furniture in a room can create the appearance of clutter. It can also make maneuvering around the room difficult. Keep furniture scale and quantity in mind when decorating. It may be wise to remove some pieces if the room is overrun with items.

Once the general idea of where furniture will be placed is decided, it helps to take measurements to ensure everything will fit. Making a reducedscale model of the room and moving paper cutouts of the furniture is much easier on the back than moving the furniture itself.

Now that the time has come to place the furniture, follow these guidelines.

• Coffee tables or ottomans should be set 14 to 18 inches away from the couch.

• Televisions should be placed at a distance three-times the size of the screen.

• The average adult requires 20 inches of breathing room for dining room chairs.

• Make sure the edge of a bed is at least 24 inches away from a wall so that sleepers can enter and exit the bed comfortably.

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Longmont Times-Call Publication

September 9 & 15, 2010

Kitchen Update Paint cabinets for a new look Painting your kitchen cabinets can be one of the easiest and most affordable projects a homeowner can do for their home.

“You can paint almost anything with some success as long as it’s prepped right,” says Dan Gust of Garden Acres Ace in Longmont.

So whether you are looking for a simple update or are hoping to make your cabinets last longer, here are some tips from Gust to help get you started.

• First, determine what type of material you are working with and whether or not you have hardware to remove and replace. Gust says even cabinets with a polyester finish can be painted it might just require a little more prep work.

• TSP cleaner – To get cabinets clean from food splatters and finger oils use a TSP cleaner. Simply rub it on and watch it eliminate finger prints.

• Fill holes and cracks – After removing any handles or hinges, fill all holes, cracks and chips on the doors with a filler and smooth it out.

• Sand – Everything on the door must be sanded. Sand it just enough to rough the surface, without taking off the finish. By making the door rough the paint will adhere to it better. Sandpaper or a sponge will work.

• Clean with a tack cloth – After sanding, remove all dust from the door with a tack cloth. Gust says this step is important and remember the better the surface prep, the better the result.

• Primer – A good primer is important because it will give the finish coat of paint a good base. Gust recommends an oil-based, alkyd primer because of its hardness once

dried and warns against primer and paint combos. While these products work well on walls, because of the everyday use of a cabinet they often do not hold up as well, he says.

• Sand again – After priming, use a fine or extra fine sanding paper to lightly go over the primer and smooth out the surface. This will help the final coat adhere to the cabinet door.

• Paint – Getting a good, quality paint is key to longevity. Gust says this is one area, along with the paint brush and roller where you do not want to go cheap. Gust recommends using an alkyd paint made specifically for cabinets. These are hard surface paints, come in any color imaginable and will not chip as readily as other paints, such as latex or acrylic. While alkyd paints take about twice the time to dry as other paints, the result will be worth it, Gust says.

• Glaze – While not required, Gust says some people like to add a glaze to the cabinets for shine or to add an antiqued look.

• Accessorize – Now it’s time to add your hardware. Whether you are putting on the old or updating to something new and different, the look will be yours alone.

Updating your cabinets with paint can be fun and rewarding once finished. Gust recommends hanging the doors if possible, because it helps get all sides, corners and edges of the doors done at once, cutting down on the time you have to spend on the project.

Just remember it is all in the work before painting, good quality products to lay the paint down smoothly and paint that can stand the test of time. Now you’re ready to paint.

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Longmont Times-Call Publication

15

Special to the Times-Call

September 9 & 15, 2010

Framing Your Art

KJ Ritter

– Kristi Ritter P.S. If you have created something similar or are inspired to make your own wall of memories, share it with me by e-mailing kkritter@timescall.com. I’d love to see what you come up with!

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Vacations, child’s art, scenic destinations or candid moments can all be framed as memories within your home.

But finding room for all of these memories may be a challenge, especially if you’re trying to fit them all onto bookcases or end tables.

I enjoy displaying personal photographs throughout our home, but I admit that too many frames seemed a bit cluttered to me. That was, until I visited a friend of mine and saw her creative wall presentation. Highlighting the main wall in her dining room, a neat display of rows and columns of photographs show places they have lived intermingled with her children’s art creations.

Each photograph is framed in a simple 8-by-10 black frame purchased at a discounted price. Each photograph she took was then printed on her home printer, leaving room around the edge for a crisp, white border, giving the illusion of a matted print. To the bottom right of each photo, my friend printed the location of the photo.

Of course, her children’s artwork gave further personalization to the wall. But if you’re lacking child’s art, you can always try making the entire wall photos or framing items from nature, like pressed leafs and flowers.

I’m working on building my own wall of photographs, carefully selecting those photos we’ve taken throughout the years that mean so much to us. I can hardly wait to hang them.

16

Longmont Times-Call Publication

September 9 & 15, 2010 Natural cherry hardwood floors by Shamrock Plank Flooring enhance the appeal of this rustic kitchen and dining area. (ARA)

Make home gutter cleaning safer, easier Metro Services

Nobody enjoys gutter cleaning. Yet it’s more important than many homeowners think. Rain flowing over windows, doors and siding can rot fascia, as well as door and window framing.

It can erode the soil around your home and damage its foundation, and also cause a wet basement, mold and mildew. To help keep gutters operating properly and to protect your investment, try these tips.

Hardwood flooring adds beauty

1. Think safety first. Always use a solid, quality ladder to reach your gutters. Safety glasses and gloves are a good idea, too. And watch out for power lines.

Article Resource Association

2. Use the right tools for the job. In addition to needing something to contain gutter debris, you’ll also need a tool to scoop it out. The Gutter Getter Scoop from Working Products Inc. is a good option. It’s the only flexible scoop shaped to fit all gutters, plus it will keep your hands away from the debris.

3. Don’t over-reach. Over-reaching can destabilize your ladder and cause you to fall. Instead, consider using a special tool to extend your reach. The Gutter Grabber is a cleaning tool on an extension pole that lets you clean up to 18 feet of gutter without moving your ladder.

4. Check the downspouts, too. If the spout is clogged, a coat hanger or the handle of your Gutter Grabber can help get the debris out of the spout.

Then, use a garden hose to flush out any remaining debris. For stubborn clogs, it may be necessary to remove the downspout and back flush it with the hose. Covering your downspout with a strainer such as the Gutter Getter Big Top Downspout Strainer will help reduce future clogging, too.

5. Clean gutters anytime they need it. Most homeowners know they need to clean their gutters in the fall. But once you understand the importance of gutters, you’ll know why its vital to clean them out anytime they get full.

To protect the value of your home, keep your gutters clean throughout the year.

As you plan your home and office improvements, think long-term by making choices that are informed, responsible and financially sound. The American Hardwood Information Center suggests hardwood flooring – one of the best long-term investments to be made. It is environmentally friendly, forever fashionable and will last for generations.

Solid Hardwood Flooring Solid hardwood flooring is just that – a solid plank of hardwood milled into a piece of flooring, usually with a tongue and groove on the edges and ends, so the pieces fit together on all sides. While it comes in a variety of thicknesses, three-quarter-inch is the most common produced in the United States and is usually nailed to a wooden subfloor. Thinner profiles, such as five-sixteenth-inch, can be glued directly on to a surface such as concrete. Widths typically range from 2.25-inch strip to 8-inch and wider plank. Favorite U.S. species are red and white oak, hard maple, ash, hickory and pecan, walnut and cherry. All solid hardwood flooring can be sanded and refinished, however special care must be taken with the thinner profiles. And in all cases of hardwood flooring installation, a clean, moisture-free surface is essential to elimi-

Eliminate clutter in the home

nate future problems with movement or moisture.

Two Types of Solid Hardwood Flooring Unfinished solid hardwood flooring comes directly from the mill and is sanded and finished onsite. Most often used in new home construction, the rough sanding occurs during the early stages of the building process with the final coating being done just prior to move-in. However, today’s numerous dust containment sanding systems allow homeowners to enjoy the beauty of site finished, custom hardwood flooring practically anytime.

Prefinished solid hardwood floors have already gone through a multiple stage finishing process before leaving the factory.

They are ready to be enjoyed. This type of flooring usually comes with a substantial factory warranty, and species choices and color ranges are virtually endless.

Engineered or Multi-layer Hardwood Floors Engineered hardwood flooring is typically made from seven to 10 layers of thin veneers or sheets, glued together to form a type of plywood, then finished with a solid hardwood wear layer. It can be installed directly over concrete and most other types of subfloors. The advantage of engineered hardwood flooring is that it will not react to

Clutter has a funny way of creeping up on a person. It starts with a few papers piling up on the counter. After awhile, closets and cabinets are packed with stuff rarely used.

Homeowners can tame the clutter by following a few steps.

Breaking the connection with belongings is one of the first steps to clearing out clutter. Here are some other steps to take.

• Make friends with the garbage

moisture changes and is more stable than solid hardwood flooring. Because of this stability, engineered is recommended over solid in wide plank applications. Depending on the thickness of the wear layer, an engineered floor will perform in much the same way same as a solid floor.

Hand-Scraped Hardwood Flooring With this type of flooring – available in solid or engineered, unfinished or prefinished – the manufacturer hand scrapes each piece of flooring to mimic the look of an old, worn floor. This look is popular in wide planks for that Old World charm. But a word of caution – to refinish these floors, all the detail will be removed in sanding.

Care and Maintenance Care and maintenance of hardwood flooring is easy; often just a matter of common sense. Follow these simple guidelines and your floors will last a lifetime.

• Water is a hardwood floor’s worst enemy. Clean up spills immediately.

• Sweep hardwood floors regularly. Dirt and dust can grind into the finish.

• Sunlight can be harmful and can drastically change the color of the wood.

• Shoes can also cause damage. Consider leaving shoes and the grit of the outside world at the door.

pail. One of the easiest ways to get rid of clutter is to simply get rid of it.

If an item hasn’t been used in at least a year, think about throwing it out.

• Have a yard sale. For individuals who have the gumption and devotion to organize and sell items, then have a yard sale. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

• Freebie offer. There are enterprising individuals who are just looking for no- or low-cost items to

collect, and probably add to their own clutter. Set items that will not be used at the curb and there’s a good chance they will be gone before the next garbage pickup.

• Donate. There are plenty of lessfortunate people who can benefit from another person’s excess.

• Rotate closets. Free up space in closets by storing out-of-season clothes and shoes in the attic.

– Metro Services

September 9 & 15, 2010

Longmont Times-Call Publication

17

Pick a rug that will floor you

Change the feel of your room by layering your rugs, using a natural-fiber rug as the base and superimposing a colorful Persian for accent and interest. (SHNS/Courtesy Bob Greenspan)

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smaller than the room’s perimeter.

If your furniture grouping will float in the center of the room, perhaps in front of a fireplace, the area rug should be large enough so the front legs of your furniture can rest upon it.

Similarly, in your dining room, don’t make the common mistake of getting a rug that’s the same size as your tabletop. Add 18 inches to each side.

Once you invest in a gorgeous rug, treat it right so it will look lovely for years to come. Start by putting a high-quality pad under the rug because the right pad can double the lifespan, especially if the rug is in a high-traffic area.

Sunlight can slowly leach the color out of a rug, so if your rug is in a sunny room, close the window shades when the sun is beating down on the rug. In addition, be sure to rotate your rug on a regular basis to even out factors like sun exposure and wear.

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paper.

You’ll also need to pick how the edges of your new rug will be finished: surged or bound in cotton tape. I’m a fan of cotton tape, but picking the right color can be tricky. Light-colored tapes look marvelous and are so versatile you can move them from room to room. However, they will show dirt more readily. Dark-colored tape hides dirt, but when you pick a distinct color, like navy or red, you limit your design options.

One of the biggest mistakes people make is to purchase an area rug that is too small for the space.

This cost-saving measure doesn’t pay off in the long run because an incorrectly sized rug can throw off the look of the entire room, even if the furnishings are fabulous.

To determine what size you’ll need, decide where your furnishings will be placed. If the furniture will rim the room, your area rug should measure a foot or two

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Seagrass rugs are made from a reed that grows in marshy areas.

As a result, the grass has a natural coating that allows it to more easily repel moisture. A friend swears by seagrass rugs after her teen boys spilled a cola on one and, the morning after, the liquid was still beaded on top of the rug and wiped up easily.

Dragongrass is simply seagrass that’s grown in more arid soil, giving it a slightly darker color. Often, dragongrass rugs are available in a wider variety of patterns, some of which have a more refined appearance, making them a better pick for formal rooms.

Coir rugs are made from coconut husks and are the roughest of the vegetable-fiber rugs. It’s best to use them for walk-off mats by your door or on a screened porch.

While these are some of the most common vegetable-fiber rugs, you can also find rugs made of hemp, jute, bamboo and even woven

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While I love the charm of wood floors, I confess that I think of them as a blank canvas just waiting to be dressed up with the right area rug.

Areas rugs are a key component of a well-designed room. They must be the right size to anchor the room’s furnishings and the right style to complement the room’s decor. Plus they must be tough enough to withstand a lot of abuse and still look lovely. Picking a rug that can accomplish all that is not an easy feat.

If you’re on a quest for a new rug, read on for tips on how to pick a rug you’ll love.

I think of area rugs as artwork.

They bring loads of color, texture, style and personality to a space. So when I’m on the hunt for a new area rug, I only consider those that capture my heart. Don’t ever purchase an area rug just because it has the right colors for your room or is the right size. Rugs can be expensive, so chances are you’ll be living with your choice for many years. Hold out for a rug that captivates you and complements the room.

Right now I have two favorite styles. The first is a Persian rug reproduction by Kalaty Rug Corp., which is located in the heart of the rug district in New York City. I’m head over heels in love with its Soumak collection because these classic beauties look just like the old Persian rugs I fawn over in an-

tiques stores but can’t afford.

I stock several Soumak patterns in my stores, and each one looks like it has a history, a story to tell.

I’ve also been impressed by the workmanship and affordability of the Kalaty rugs.

Each rug is made with highquality wool and features a harder, thinner weave that doesn’t easily crush or show wear.

My other top pick? Naturalfiber rugs. They look great with just about any decorating style, from traditional to modern. Their subtle texture and subdued color work with any color scheme. They wear like iron so they are familyfriendly. And they are so affordable you don’t feel like you’re making a lifetime commitment when you purchase one.

For my living room, I picked a large sisal that covered most of the floor. In the winter, I layer Persian rugs on top to warm up the two distinct sitting areas. But during the summer, I roll up the wool rugs so I can enjoy the crisp look of the sisal. I’m so crazy about the effect that I may install wall-towall sisal in my bedroom.

If you’re considering a naturalfiber rug for your home, here’s a quick look at three popular types.

Sisal, my favorite, is made from the same cactus plant used to make tequila. The pulp is spun into ropes, which are then woven into mats. With its clean, bright appearance, sisal is a great choice for those who want a transitional or contemporary feel.

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18

Longmont Times-Call Publication

September 9 & 15, 2010

Perfect Painting

Stay warm this winter with fall preparation

Article Resource Association

We’ve all seen the do-it-yourself paint job gone wrong, with thin spots, drips and streaks. Paint, however, isn’t usually the culprit of a bad paint job.

But cutting corners while prepping a space is.

By following the right steps prior to painting, and using the right painting tools, you’ll be sure to have a refreshed space that looks like it was painted by a professional.

Assess the Situation A major factor to consider when starting a new project is the condition of the walls and cleanliness of the surfaces you want to paint. Item number one on the pre-painting checklist is to inspect the wall.

Any loose paint, holes or cracks should be fixed before priming, and especially before painting.

If your old paint is peeling, it prevents your new coat of primer, and eventually your new color, from adhering to the wall, resulting in cracks and continued peeling. Don’t sabotage your makeover before it even begins. Scrape away old paint until all the loose material is gone.

To get the job done like a professional, you’ll need a quality scraper, like those from Purdy, makers of professional quality painting tools.

Clean, Patch and Prime After you’re done scraping, you need to clean the wall. Any dirt left on the wall can create problems, causing the paint to peel or in some cases, slide right off. Using a good grease-cutting detergent will remove most of this unwanted material from the surface.

Once the wall is properly cleaned, the next step is to patch any flaws before priming and painting.

And most importantly, when patching any surface, make sure to use the proper patching materials and tools.

And Remember, Quality Tools Count The quality of the tools used is going to affect the final finish. Just like brushes or roller covers, a cheap prep tool can bring down the quality of your entire project. Brushes that shed or rollers that leave lint should be avoided, as they’ll ruin the look of your finished products.

Article Resource Association

Humans don’t really hibernate, but when those bone-chilling northern winds arrive and snow starts to pile up against the door, we all tend to prefer the climate-controlled comfort of our own homes. And like all creatures, great and small, who endure the hardships of winter, we must prepare.

While storing nuts or putting on a little extra winter fat may get some through the long days or nights, making a few home improvements can make your “nest” a little more habitable this winter.

Winterizing If you consider your home to be a living, breathing thing, then its heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system is its lungs and the ductwork its arteries. As you schedule checkups to keep your family healthy, do the same for your home’s heating system. An HVAC professional can perform a routine maintenance checkup to ensure all components of your HVAC system are operating properly and safely, and advise you on ways to improve energy efficiency.

Here are some other suggested household checkups to cross off your list before winter arrives: • Check the ducts for leaks and inspect the fireplace and repair as necessary • Inspect windows and pipes for leaks • Properly insulate the attic • Remove dirt and clutter from gutters and replace gutters if they are damaged • Check smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure they are working properly Improving your Home Before Cool Air Sets In As you winterize your home, it may become more apparent and more realistic to improve and replace rather than service and maintain. That old furnace may be costing you extra cash, and the cost of fuel never goes down in the winter. Also, have you considered the air quality in a home sealed up tight for the winter? Here are a few things you should consider improving to ensure a cleaner, healthier and more comfortable home environment: • Consider adding a heat pump to your HVAC system. A heat pump does

Equipping the man cave Metro Services

A room in the house devoted entirely to male interests is becoming more popular in recent years. The man cave, as it’s come to be called, can shun the decorating style of the rest of the house, and decor may be all the choice of its visionary creator.

The man’s domain is no longer relegated to the garage or a dusty corner in the basement. Today’s guys are devoting an entire room to a particular interest of their choice. Some prefer a work-out room with equipment that rivals the nearest gym. Others want to deck-out the room in surround sound and a projection screen to create the ultimate home-theater.

According to a recent survey by ServiceMagic, a business

the job of an air conditioner and a furnace. But unlike a furnace, it doesn’t burn fuel to create heat. It uses electricity and works with your indoor furnace or air handler to keep your home warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and comfortable all year round.

• A whole-home air filtration system may be what the doctor ordered ... literally. A tightened up home can be a haven for dust, dander, bacteria and the flu. An air filtration system can remove up to 99 percent of allergens from a home’s filtered air. It’ll keep you breathing easier and healthier.

• Add a programmable thermostat to help you save time and money.

• Add a dehumidifier. Keeping a good balance between too dry and too moist is difficult in the winter but houses with too much moisture can harbor bacteria and germs, and not to mention damage woodwork like window frames and doors.

So, as your home creaks and settles into its winter routine you should be safe, warm and comfortable having enjoyed your preparations and improvements.

that connects homeowners with contractors, about 40 percent of respondents said they have a man cave or room in their home and another 13 percent said the male domain is in the planning or construction phase.

No matter what the man cave will entail, there are some steps guys can take to ensure the plans go smoothly.

• Create the theme. This is a chance for the man to dream up any design style he prefers.

• Tech it out. Chances are the focal point of the man cave will be a big-screen television. If budget allows, go for the biggest and best TV with all the peripheral equipment.

• Furnish the place. The cornerstone piece of furniture could be a large leather sectional to fit many guy friends. Or, if the man cave is to be a solitary spot, a comfortable recliner.

• Enjoy the space. The man cave is a place where guys can kick back and relax and do what they prefer.

September 9 & 15, 2010

Longmont Times-Call Publication

19

Finding the right mattress Metro Services

Overhauling a bedroom involves different renovations. Purchasing a new mattress is among the typical upgrades when refurbishing the bedroom.

It can be difficult to determine when it’s time to buy a mattress.

Obvious signs include sagging or lumping of the mattress, creaking and unsupportive edges. However, subtle signs can be recognized by the rest a person gets – or rather, how little rest a person gets.

Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or feeling unrefreshed after awakening may be signs that it’s time to replace the mattress. Back pain or stiffness can also be indicators.

Once it is determined that a new mattress is in order, individuals should purchase one that fits their sleeping needs.

Support System Mattresses are constructed in different ways, offering different levels of comfort and durability.

• Inner-spring – Several rows of coiled springs form the inner

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suspension of this type of mattress. Foam and padding cover the springs. Some inner-spring mattresses have an individually wrapped coil system rather than inter-connected springs. This reduces movement disturbances.

• Latex and memory foam – These mattresses feature several layers of foam or latex to form the mattress. They are especially good at reducing the feeling of motion, which is a benefit for couples who are often awakened by their bed partner.

Softness Depending on the position of sleeping, certain mattresses are better than others. Back and stomach sleepers should consider a firm mattress because they properly align the spine. Side sleepers may want a pillowtop mattress, which will be the softest. This eliminates extra pressure in the hips and shoulders.

Redo your laundry room Family Features

If it seems like you’re constantly doing laundry, you’re not alone. According to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, the average American family does eight to 10 loads of laundry each week. And from wash to dry, a single load takes about an hour and a half to complete.

Can anything be done to give laundry a lift? Giving your laundry room a quick and easy makeover can clean up this chore and make it more efficient.

Tidy Up The first step is to declutter and clean up the laundry room. Get rid of broken hampers, recycle used containers and give everything a thorough cleaning. Sweep and mop the floor – and don’t forget to clean up the washer and dryer, too.

Sort it Out Set up a three-bin sorter – one bin each for lights, darks and hand washables. If you don’t have room for a permanent one, look into one that folds flat when not in use.

Storage Solutions Keep everything you need near the washer. An eye-level shelf works well. If there’s no room for one, try a rolling caddy that can fit between the washer and dryer. Arrange

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Size It’s important to find the right size mattress for one’s needs.

• Twin and full-size mattresses should be reserved for solo sleepers, primarily children.

• Queen mattresses are a preferred option for many couples.

They can also be a good choice for single sleepers who like to sprawl out. Queen mattresses are 5 inches longer than full mattresses, making them ideal for taller people.

• King mattresses are the largest of the offerings. They provide 38 inches of sleeping space per sleeper (two) in the bed. That’s the equivalent of a twin mattress each.

Stop by our showroom to see custom solutions for your project.

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products in the order that you use them.

Boxes or baskets make good containers for smaller items such as clothes pins, sponges and scrubbers.

Consolidate How many laundry products do you really need? To save time and space, look for products that do double duty, such as Arm & Hammer Power Gel laundry detergents.

Their unique multi-enzyme formulas stick to stains, removing even tough stains the first time. The formula helps to eliminate a variety of stains, including grass, blood, soil, clay, grease, oil and food.

Lost and Found Keep an attractive dish or basket near the washing machine – you’ll have a place to put all the miscellaneous items you find as you empty pockets. When you’re done with the laundry, take the dish with you and return the items to their rightful places.

Finishing Well For post-laundry tasks, such as ironing or folding, set up a workstation right in the laundry room. A simple table lets you fold clothes right out of the dryer.

In no time at all, you can turn your laundry room into an efficient workspace that helps you get the job done faster and better.

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