Fall Home IMPROVEMENT September 2020
PANDEMIC DRIVES KITCHEN REMODELING PROJECTS page 2 HOME OFFICE MUST-HAVES page 5 CAN’T AFFORD A NEW KITCHEN?
Organize the space you have
page 6
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E2 Saturday, September 19, 2020 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.
PANDEMIC DRIVES
KITCHEN
Remodeling Projects By Carolyn Lange clange@wctrib.com
C
OVID-19 has meant more people are staying home and cooking in their kitchens now than in the past. Not surprisingly, that has resulted in a flurry of kitchen remodeling projects. People are “forced to be home” and are “sick of their kitchens,” said Alicia Molenaar, a designer and co-owner of Kitchen Fair in Willmar. During the pandemic, Kitchen Fair has been swamped with requests from customers looking for a new look and ways to improve
functionality and efficiency in their kitchens. “We are really busy,” Molenaar said. While updating paint or adding a colorful backsplash can be handled by a weekend do-it-yourselfer, a kitchen makeover can benefit from a professional designer. The process begins with taking measurements of an existing kitchen space and an interview with the homeowner to find out how they use their kitchen, how many people typically cook there at one time and what they want in terms of style and functionality.
Giving a kitchen a new look can be as simple as installing new hardware – where the trend is for larger handles that can fit a man-sized hand – or as complex as totally gutting an existing kitchen and installing new cabinets, countertops, appliances, lighting and flooring. Molenaar, who’s had 20 years experience as a designer, and fellow Kitchen Fair designer, Bruce Dexter, who has more than 40 years of experience designing kitchens, shared their observations on what’s currently trending in Midwest Minnesota kitchen designs.
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West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Saturday, September 19, 2020 E3
DRAWERS vs DOORS
Using deep drawers to store dishes and pots and pans are a design favorite, according to Molenaar. For people who are shorter, or those with back and shoulder problems, storing heavy plates and pots below the counter is easier than reaching up into a cupboard.
SOFT-CLOSE DRAWERS
Photos by Erica Dischino / West Central Tribune
Secret SPACES
Unlike old kitchen drawers that could be pulled out three-fourths of the way, full-extension drawers allow even the dark recesses of a drawer to be utilized. Two-tiered cutlery drawers allow silverware to be stored on the first layer and then slid back to reveal lesser-used items on the second layer. Drawers fitted with tilted shelves create easyto-use storage for spice jars as another way to utilize space efficiently in ways that make a kitchen seem larger than it is. With a gentle touch soft-close drawers close magically by themselves. Having a fight in a kitchen isn’t quite the same in a remodeled kitchen because drawers can’t be slammed shut, said Molenaar with a laugh.
SECRET SPACES
Kitchen nooks and crannies can pose design challenges but pull-out drawers can be fit into skinny spaces to store utensils like cutting boards and cookie sheets. Dead space in front of the sink can be turned into a small storage place for sponges and scrubbers. Special cabinet designs are popular for large stand mixers that may be too big to store on the counter and too heavy to carry from a storage cabinet to the counter. A mechanical lift allows the mixer to be stored out of site in a cabinet and then brought to counter-height.
space for a first-time dishwasher. A new trend is for dishwasher drawers in islands that accommodate open floor plans without a lot of walls for traditional dishwashers. Raising dishwashers up to waist level is another popular design trend. Surprisingly, a fair number of people don’t want a dishwasher, said Molenaar. However, often a cabinet will be installed close to the sink that could easily be removed to install a dishwasher in the future. Smart appliances, like touchless faucets, ovens that can be turned on and off when you’re not in your house, refrigerators that record inventory and garbage cans that let you know what you need to put on the grocery list based on the container you recycled or threw away are quickly making their way into current design plans, according to Dexter. “The smart appliances are quite appealing,” he said. “It’s here. It’s all happening.”
ISLANDS IN THE STREAM
Most people want a kitchen island but sometimes an existing kitchen space isn’t big enough to allow adequate space and cooks are “bumping into each other,” said Molenaar. Installing a tiny island just for the sake of having an island may not be the most efficient use of space and it might have to be sacrificed or replaced with a peninsula.
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E4 Saturday, September 19, 2020 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.
OPEN SHELVES
THE FACES BEHIND KITCHEN FAIR
Despite HGTV’s apparent love of open shelving for plates and other kitchen decor, most people in this region opt for cupboards. “They want to hide it all away,” said Molenaar, for a kitchen that’s “clean and clutter-free.” Soffits, or bulkheads, are coming out and replaced with cabinets that go to the ceiling to maximize storage. Staggered cabinet levels are out and one-level cabinets with “clean lines” are in.
CABINET STYLES
When Dexter started designing kitchens 40 years ago, cabinets were “oak, oak, oak and oak.” Now the trend is for natural hickory, cherry and maple cabinets. About a quarter of the time cabinets are painted, with white the most popular color. The most popular style of cupboard doors is a “Shaker” or Arts & Crafts” style with beveled edges for easier cleaning. When removing the dark cabinets from the ‘70s or the golden oak cupboards from the ‘80s, homeowners may be tempted to just update the exterior look. Molenaar said installing new units has the advantage of the full-extension and soft-close features at about the same price as updating existing cabinets.
FLOORING
Shiny floors and ceramic tiles are fading from kitchens and being replaced with “luxury vinyl” float-
Carolyn Lange / West Central Tribune Bruce Dexter, from left, Ginger Dexter and Alicia Molenaar said the COVID-19 pandemic brought an unexpected boom to the business as people who are stuck at home cooking are eager for a new look to their kitchen.
ing floor products. The current trend is for weathered “distressed-looking” styles that have a lot of “movement” and doesn’t show dirt as easily as solid dark wood colors, said Molenaar. The easy-to-install plank flooring is water resistant and easy to clean.
LIGHTING
Under-cabinet lighting to brighten up the countertop is a popular trend, along with overhead recessed lighting and a large “statement” light with one or two globes over an island.
FINANCING Low interest rates on home improvement loans, which is currently around 5 percent or less, is making it more affordable to finance home improvement projects. Dexter said he remembers doing projects when interest rates were around 19 percent.
Kitchen Fair was started about 40 years ago by Bruce and Ginger Dexter. Two years ago they sold their business to Don’s Building Center of Kerkhoven, which was started in 1985 by Don and Juanita Halverson. Now owned by Molenaar and her sister Gretchen Hauge, and the sisters’ husbands – Dana Molenaar and Kelly Hauge – the enterprise includes the building center in Kerkhoven, a showroom in Benson and Kitchen Fair in Willmar. Molenaar, who’s been a designer for 20 years, said she “grew up with sawdust in her blood.” Although she was a “competitor” for many years, Bruce Dexter said he offered to sell the business to Molenaar because they both worked with the same kitchen cabinet builder – Dura Supreme from Howard Lake – and they used the same computer-assisted drafting system so there’d be no transitional training required. And they wanted to leave their business and customers in the hands of someone who was “honest,” said Ginger Dexter. The Dexters now work for Molenaar, where Ginger does the books and Bruce continues his work as a designer.
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HOME OFFICE must haves
West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Saturday, September 19, 2020 E5
Remote work has been around for many years, though it certainly picked up steam in 2020. In an effort to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19, in March 2020 government officials implemented stay-at-home measures that mandated many working professionals to begin working from home. That transition occurred seemingly overnight, forcing men and women to find somewhere in their homes to work. As the dust settled and working professionals grew accustomed to working from home, many recognized the need to have an office in their homes. Various factors can make home offices more conducive to getting work done, and the following are some home office must-haves that can help people be more productive while working from home.
LIGHTING
Lighting is important in a home office. It’s easy to overlook natural light, especially for workers who previously worked in offices that did not have windows. But natural light can help save on energy costs and boost mood. In fact, natural light is a valued commodity for people used to working in office settings. A 2018 survey of more than 1,600 workers conducted by the human resources advisory firm Future Workplace found that access to natural light and views of the outdoors were the most sought-after attribute of a workplace environment. In addition, 47 percent of workers surveyed admitted they felt tired or very tired from the absence of natural light or a window at their office. When designing their home offices, homeowners should keep this in mind and choose areas of their homes that
get ample natural light during a typical workday. Additional lighting also will be necessary. Recessed lighting can give an office a sleek look, and lights that can dim can allow workers to adjust their lighting based on how much they need at any given point in the workday.
QUIET
Professionals forced to work at home when social distancing measures were implemented may not have had much quiet, especially for those with young children whose schools were closed. But when designing a home office, homeowners have the chance to make their offices more conducive to concentration. Soundproofing walls may not be necessary, but look for areas of the home that don’t get much foot traffic. Kitchens are very popular rooms in many homes, so try to locate your home office away from the kitchen. A spare bedroom upstairs may make for the most ideal home office setting if the home does not have a traditional den. Spare bedrooms come with doors, which can instantly create a sense of quiet when closed. A converted garage also can make for a useful home office, but make sure the room already has cooling and heating and, ideally, windows.
decide on how you want the office to be laid out so you can have outlets installed where your computer, devices and other items, like a printer and television, will be. This makes it easy to hide cords and
give the office a clean, professional look. Home office capabilities became a big priority in 2020. Designing such spaces can be fun and easy. MetroCreatives
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ELECTRICAL OUTLETS
Recently built homes tend to be equipped with enough outlets to accommodate our increasingly connected lifestyles. But older homes may need some electrical updates before they can capably accommodate home offices. When updating your electrical, replace existing outlets and fixtures with energy-efficient LED fixtures, which save money and benefit the environment. Before updating the electrical,
lights that dim
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E6 Saturday, September 19, 2020 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.
CAN’T AFFORD A NEW KITCHEN? organize the space you have
By Carolyn Lange | clange@wctrib.com
Gretchen Otness definitely practices what she preaches. Walking into her Willmar home is like taking a breath of fresh – very organized – air. A professional organizer who started her own business, MODE Organizing, in 2019, Otness said her goal is to help others “get in the mode and out of the mess” by taking practical steps to live in homes that are tidy, clutter-free
and yet homey and inviting. Otness said organizing “comes naturally” for her and she thrives on blending her passion for being organized with her client’s needs “for a little help in their homes.” The COVID-19 pandemic that has kept most people homebound has led to widespread purging of possessions. People realized “how closed in they can feel in their homes” when they’re working,
Photos by Erica Dischino / West Central Tribune
going to school, eating and playing in their homes all day long, Otness said. The pandemic is providing an opportunity for people to think about what they “really need” versus what they have “just accumulated,” said Otness. “We look at their homes in a different way.” Getting organized doesn’t mean getting rid of everything. Otness said there is a “happy medium”
of eliminating excess stuff that can cause stress and experiencing “joy” in having possessions. “Be as honest with yourself as possible about keeping what you truly use and need and being OK with letting go of the rest,” said Otness, who encourages people to tackle organizing in “bite-sized chunks” by doing one drawer or cupboard a day.
West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Saturday, September 19, 2020 E7
“BE AS HONEST WITH YOURSELF AS POSSIBLE ABOUT KEEPING WHAT YOU TRULY USE AND NEED AND BEING OK WITH LETTING GO OF THE REST.”
— Gretchen Otness, professional organizer
Otness is not a fan of putting excess possessions in storage units. “They’re just simply a place to hold onto stuff because we can’t make the decision,” she said. Heirlooms and antiques may be hard to part with. But if keeping something is “more of a burden than a blessing” Otness suggests taking a photo of the item, savoring the memories associated with it and then “be OK with letting go of that guilt” while letting go of the memento. The name of her business – MODE – stands for Minimize, Organize, Design and Efficiency. She uses those tools and the mantra of “a place for everything and everything in its place” when working with clients no matter how big or small of a space they need help with. Spending more time cooking in the kitchen during COVID-19 has resulted in remodeling projects for some. But Otness said organizing the space you have can also create a more usable and efficient space.
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E8 Saturday, September 19, 2020 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.
OTNESS SHARES HER ADVICE FOR REDUCING THE
kitchen clutter.
1. Put what you use most often, like dishes and silverware, in the “go zone” between eye and waist level. Keep less-used items, like small appliances, in the highest and lowest spaces. 2. Remove dry goods and pantry items, like, pasta, beans, flours and rice from original packaging and put into jars and bins for better organization and a visual cue on when to put items on the grocery list. 3. Shop your home. Use things you already have, like baskets, trays, bowls and vases for other uses, like a utensil holder by your stove or a decorative bowl for produce on the counter.
To learn more about home organizing, Otness can be reached at: Email: gretchen@modeorganizing.com Website: www.modeorganizing.com Instagram: @modeorganizing Facebook: @MODEOrganizing
4. A Lazy Susan can help utilize space in deep shelves while keeping everything accessible.
CONNECTING BUYERS & SELLERS
5. Eliminate the junk drawer and replace it with a utility drawer that houses smaller needed tools like batteries and flashlight, and omit things, like Band-Aids, hair ties and pens that belong in a different area of the home. 6. Spend 60 seconds now to save hours later. Put a recycling item into the bin as soon as the container is empty, go through your mail as you bring it in the house, do the dishes before the end of each day, wipe up spills right away and put away all groceries as soon as you bring them in.
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West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Saturday, September 19, 2020 E9
HOME INSULATION TYPES VARY where to install different types
When thinking about renovating their homes, homeowners may imagine changing wall colors, expanding room sizes or upgrading appliances and fixtures. However, unless people take inventory of the less glamorous components of the home, such as structure, plumbing, heating and cooling, and insulation, other improvements may be for naught. A home insulation project certainly doesn’t offer the wow factor of a kitchen remodel, but insulation serves a vital function in the house that helps keep people comfortable and reduces energy consumption. Insulation is typically placed in areas where air escapes, such as between the stud cavities inside the walls and in the attic, and serves to slow and reduce heat transfer. The U.S. Department of Ener-
gy says between 50 and 70 percent of the energy used in homes is for heating and cooling. By improving home insulation, homeowners can make their homes more comfortable, consistent and efficient. In fact, the Energy Star program overseen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says homeowners stand to save an average of 15 percent on heating and cooling costs by adding proper insulation. To do so, homeowners can take a crash course in home insulation and find the products that fit their needs.
BLANKET BATTS AND ROLLS
Blanket batts and rolls typically are constructed with fiberglass, so proper safety gear, such as a mask and gloves, is needed when handling them. Installing this type of insula-
tion is relatively easy since the materials are designed to fit the standard width between studs, rafters and floor joists.
LOOSE FILL
Loose fill is usually made of fiberglass or cellulose (recycled paper fiber). It is blown or sprayed into place with pneumatic equipment, according to The Home Depot. Loose fill can be ideal for hard-to-reach areas in attics or inside wall cavities. It’s good for adding insulation to irregularly shaped areas. Since it requires special equipment, this is a job best left to professionals.
SPRAYED FOAM
Sprayed foam is just as the name implies, a foam made from polyurethane, polyisocyanurate, cementitious, or other materials that are
applied by a spray container. DIYers who need only small applications can use canned products . Large quantities are pressure-sprayed by professionals.
FOAM BOARD/RIGID FOAM PANELS
Ideal for unfinished walls, such as basement or foundation walls, floors and ceilings, these are boards of polyurethane or polystyrene. Foam boards tend to reduce energy consumption more effectively than other types of insulation. Homeowners considering upgrading their insulation or amending existing insulation should do their homework on the type of insulation that will be most effective for their homes. MetroCreatives
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E10 Saturday, September 19, 2020 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.
HOW TO
REMOVE
mildew
from your home’s
EXTERIOR Homeowners want their residences to look inviting inside and out. Part of keeping an attractive property involves addressing issues that can compromise not only the appearance of a home, but even its integrity. People who live in regions with high humidity may find their homes are vulnerable to exterior mildew growth. Mildew is a kind of mold. Molds include all species of microscopic fungi that grow in the form of hyphae, which are multicellular filaments, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Mold thrives on any organic matter and surfaces with moisture management problems. Mildew, in particular, lives on shower walls, windowsills and other places where moisture levels are high.
Mildew also can grow on home siding as well as fences and other exterior structures. While typically gray or white, mildew can be various colors. Experts recommend various cleansers to help combat the issue of mildew on a home. One of the first products that homeowners tend to reach for is sodium hypochlorite, which is a standard bleach used in laundry and pool sanitation. While sodium hypochlorite seems to make mildew vanish, those at This Old House say that chlorine evaporates too quickly to get to mildew’s roots on porous surfaces, such as wood or vinyl siding. Bleach also can stain clothing and damage foliage around the house. Hydrogen peroxide, or oxygen bleach, is less volatile, will not
affect foliage and can clean mildew, algae and dirt on and below the surface. Trisodium phosphate is another effective cleanser. Commonly known as TSP, it often succeeds where other solutions fail in regard to stubborn stains and mildew. TSP also works well on various exterior surfaces. TSP needs to be used with extreme caution. When using TSP, wear long sleeves, gloves, goggles, and a respiratory mask, says Today’s Homeowner. The product also requires adequate ventilation. There also are some environmental concerns, as TSP can damage foliage. In addition, if the product ends up in lakes and streams, it can trigger an overgrowth of algae that results in the depletion of oxygen levels in the water. Eco-conscious
homeowners may want to try oxy cleansers before TSP. Mildew shies away from bright sunlight, so it tends to grow on the north side of homes. Removing trees or other foliage that can further block sunlight to areas of the house can help eradicate mildew growth and stop it before it starts. Another tactic is to clean out gutters regularly and thoroughly to reduce moisture and to prevent decomposing debris from running over the edge of the gutters. This runoff can drip down the home’s siding and spread the mildew to other areas. Mildew can be problematic any time of year. Clean up mildew when the weather cools down to spruce up the look of a home. MetroCreatives
West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Saturday, September 19, 2020 E11
RESTORE
RUSTY TOOLS
instead of trashing them Many people may be tempted to discard rusty tools that have gone unused and sat in a garage or shed for a significant period of time. But tools encrusted with rust do not need to be relegated to the trash bin, nor do gardeners have to toil for hours scraping and sanding off the rust. There’s a much easier way to restore rusty tools that relies on a common household ingredient: vinegar. Pour vinegar into a deep enough vessel to submerge the metal part of the tool. Soak the tool overnight. The next day, use a scouring pad to rub off the rust. If the tool is too big to fit into a can or bucket, simply wrap it with a vinegar-soaked rag and cover the whole tool with a tightly secured plastic bag. Follow the same procedure the next day. After all the rust is gone, rinse the tool in cool water and dry thoroughly. Then return it to regular usage. MetroCreatives
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E12 Saturday, September 19, 2020 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.
6
WAYS
MANY BATHROOM ACCIDENTS ARE PREVENTABLE WITH SOME EASY MODIFICATIONS.
Homes should be safe havens. But each year injuries in and around the home contribute to millions of medical visits and many fatalities each year. Although anywhere in a home can be the scene of an accident, bathrooms tend to be the most dangerous room in the house. Slippery tile, the presence of water, stockpiled medications, and many sharp and hard edges in a small space pose several different hazards in the bathroom, particularly for young children and people age 65 and up. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says falls, which can result in serious injuries like hip fractures and head trauma, are the cause of 80 percent of all bathroom accidents. Many bathroom accidents are preventable with some easy modifications.
1. REDUCE SLIPPERY SURFACES.
Wet tile is a recipe for slick conditions. Bath rugs with rubber backing can provide traction in the bathroom, as can non-slip mats placed on the floor of the bathtub or shower
TO MAKE
BATHROOMS
a safer place
enclosure. Water-resistant flooring made from recycled rubber is another option. It is softer, less slippery and more forgiving than traditional tile flooring.
2. INSTALL LEVER-STYLE FIXTURES. Round knobs in the bath-
room can be difficult to grasp, especially for the elderly or those with arthritis. Lever-style fixtures are easier to maneuver and can help alleviate scalding from not being able to adequately adjust the water temperature.
3. UTILIZE TRANSFER BENCHES AND SHOWER SEATS. A transfer
bench can help reduce injuries that occur when trying to climb over a tub wall. Benches are placed outside of the tub and a person sits and then swings his legs over the ledge. Transfer benches also can be used in conjunction with shower seats. This is a chair or bench that allows people to sit while they shower.
4. DISCARD OLD MEDICATIONS.
Clean out the medicine cabinet of old or expired medications, including both prescription and over-the-
counter drugs. This reduces the likelihood of medication confusion, and does not put potentially harmful pills and syrups into the hands of children.
5. INSTALL GRAB BARS. Properly installed grab bars around the shower and toilet area can provide leverage and stability. AARP says many injuries to seniors occur when they are attempting to sit or get up from the toilet. Grab bars or an elevated toilet seat can help.
6. INSTALL MOTION-DETECTING LIGHTS. These lights turn on automatically upon detecting movement, making them beneficial for people who routinely visit the bathroom in the middle of the night. Adequate illumination also can help reduce fall risk. Bathroom safety should be made a priority. Various modifications can make bathrooms safer for people of all ages. Metro Creatives
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West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Saturday, September 19, 2020 E13
HOUSES ARE FILLED WITH
CHEMICAL ADDITIVES
here’s how to find healthier materials
By Roy Furchgott Special To The Washington Post It is nearly impossible to avoid chemical additives in your home – they lurk in flooring, paint, fabric, wood and tile. There are countless chemicals still in the Environmental Protection Agency’s recently pared-down Toxic Substances Control Act inventory. Those chemicals are tested for safety by the manufacturers themselves, and there is little to no testing to determine what happens when multiple additives mix in your home. “There are a lot of chemicals we know little about. And we are exposed to multiple things, the totality of which we cannot begin to understand,” said Joel Tickner, a professor at the University of Massachusetts Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences. “There are materials found in house dust that we inhale and ingest, so the reason to focus on healthier materials is pretty clear, at least from a scientific standpoint.” The good news is there is a growing movement to manufacture safer, less chemical-laden building materials, which can greatly lower your exposure to questionable substances – and many are easily available at big-box hardware stores, sometimes at a lower cost than their chemically rich predecessors. If you plan to refresh your home, whether with a new couch or a total gut, it makes sense to use the healthiest materials available. Here is how to find them. First, there is confusion around what constitutes a healthy building material. Do we mean healthy for the environment – those products are usually
called “sustainable” – or healthy for people in a house? Some may be both, but let’s focus on products that make your indoors healthier. That primarily means materials that don’t worsen air quality. But even within categories of healthy products are different levels of healthy. Take paint, for instance. Paints that are low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) are preferable to older VOC-loaded paints, but how low is low? Many low-VOC paints are still acrylic-based. Acrylic is a plastic, and some question how healthy any acrylic can be. “People live in rooms covered with acrylic paint, which is like living in a plastic bag,” said Jonsara Ruth, design director at the Parsons School of Design’s Healthy Materials Lab. You can take a manufacturer’s word that its paint is low in VOCs, but you’d do better to look for a third-party certification. One of the more stringent low-VOC certifications is Green Seal 11. However, Ruth suggested going with an even safer mineral-based paint. There are quite a few organizations like Green Seal, which are devoted to helping consumers sort the continuum of healthy, healthier and healthiest products. One is the Healthy Building Network’s HomeFree website, which rates different kinds of building materials on a best-to-worst scale. For instance, under flooring, linoleum gets the top rating while at the bottom are floors of recycled vinyl. Counterintuitively, recycled products can be especially hazardous – they may incorporate old material made when toxic chemicals were allowed. HomeFree has ratings for flooring, paint, drywall, countertops, cabinetry, doors, insulation adhesives and seal-
“THERE ARE MATERIALS FOUND IN HOUSE DUST THAT WE INHALE AND INGEST, SO THE REASON TO FOCUS ON HEALTHIER MATERIALS IS PRETTY CLEAR, AT LEAST FROM A SCIENTIFIC STANDPOINT." – Joel Tickner, professor at the University of Massachusetts Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences
ants, but it does not cite brand names. If you want to know what specific brands to buy, there are dozens of certifications aiming to guide you to “eco” products. But buyer beware – some of those certifications are questionable. “There are a lot of labels that give consumers the impression it is sustainable and safe, but just because it has a green leaf on it doesn’t mean it’s healthier,” said Chris Cassell, head of sustainability for Lowe’s. There are specific certifications that are generally considered the most reliable, however. The gold standard, experts say, is Cradle to Cradle, which certifies products that are sustainable, healthy and support socially responsible labor practices. Its list includes building materials as well as items such as furniture and clothing. The EPA offers a Safer Choice certification, primarily for cleaning products. Green Seal certifies not only products such as the aforementioned paint, but also restaurants, hotels and cleaning services. Not all uncertified products are dangerous. Many may meet various standards, but won’t seek official certification, which can be a costly. In those cases, you will have to dig in and do your homework. The organization Mind the Store publishes a “Chemicals of Concern” list citing which chemi-
cals are known hazards. If you see any of those on a label, move on. While you might not find every eco product in a big-box hardware store, you can find quite a few, more every year. Even products that aren’t marked as healthy may be safer than they were just a few years ago. Ron Jarvis, Home Depot’s vice president of environmental innovations, said that his company weighs the health impact of every product it evaluates for sale and that healthier products get a leg up. That, he said, has turned the production of construction materials, cleaners and housewares into an eco-competition. “Manufacturers are concerned that the competitor that is coming in to pitch Home Depot will have taken out more chemicals and has a safer product,” he said. The result is products getting gradually safer over time. Similarly, Lowe’s has a stated policy of continuously reducing harmful chemicals in the products it sells – for instance removing all residential vinyl flooring that contains ortho-phthalates, which have been linked to organ damage. Two easy but often overlooked ways for do-it-yourselfers to avoid a big dose of chemical exposure, Cassell said, are: “Make sure you are reading the instructions carefully and use the protective equipment required.”
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E14 Saturday, September 19, 2020 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.
this design
TREND IS COMING BACK Design trends come and go, but some have a funny way of resurfacing years after they first became popular. Homeowners who may have been considering renovating their home to remove a design element they believe to be passe might want to see if that feature has experienced a resurgence in popularity. In fact, one of the more derided home decor trends of yesteryear has slowly crept back into style, albeit in moderation. Wood paneling is back and better than ever, advise many design professionals. It’s the formerly ugly duckling that filled homes starting in the 1950s, creating drab dens and faux-wood family rooms. Paneling had long been an element of choice because it is relatively easy to install and can camouflage problem walls in a home, like those covered in boisterous wallpaper prints. Wood paneling reach the peak of its popularity in the 1970s, and since then homeowners have been tearing down these faux offenders for years or masking them in paint to brighten up spaces. However, the experts at Apartment Therapy report that wood paneling in shades of brown are making a comeback in cozy spots such as dens or studies. The warm tones of wood
paneling elicit a retro vibe. But unlike their fake predecessors, today’s paneled walls are being outfitted in real wood, making them more eco-friendly and stylish than ever before. Designers have flocked to reclaimed wood and veneer panelings to incorporate them into design elements. And while wood paneling used to be hung vertically, designers now experiment with hanging paneling. Many people no longer use paneling to cover an entire space. Paneling is used sparingly as an accent wall or another feature for character. Wood walls can be stained in a rich mahogany to look upscale or be weathered and rustic. Homeowners ready to re-embrace wood paneling can choose to enhance one wall in a room. Think about the space above a fireplace or a strip of wall behind a sitting chair and side table. Paneling also can serve as a headboard behind a bed in a master suite. Painted horizontally, paneling can add dimension and texture to walls, even in a bathroom. Wood paneling is slowly making a comeback, proving that no design trend every truly goes away. MetroCreatives
how to clean when faced
WITH A SHORTAGE OF SUPPLIES In light of concerns about COVID19, various health organizations have issued specific instructions on how to maintain personal safety and cleanliness. These recommendations involve using common household products to sanitize homes, offices and public spaces. As people take such precautions, many are stocking up on extra essentials resulting in shortages. Everything from hand sanitizers to paper towels may be hard to find on grocery store shelves, leaving some to wonder what they can do to remain safe without sanitizers? The Environmental Protection Agency states that coronaviruses are some of the easiest types of viruses to kill because they have an envelope around them that enables them to merge with other cells and infect them. If that protective coating can be disrupted, the virus can’t do its job. For those having trouble finding well-known cleaning agents, these alternatives may suffice.
HOT WATER AND SOAP
The reason hand-washing is at the top of the list of sanitizing methods
is because it is so effective at washing away viruses and bacteria. Friction from scrubbing with soap and water can help break the protective envelope, states the EPA. Soap and water can clean all surfaces in a home, especially when applying a little extra elbow grease.
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
As people clear isopropyl (rubbing alcohol) off the shelves, do not discount hydrogen peroxide. The CDC says household hydrogen peroxide at 3 percent concentration can deactivate rhinovirus, the virus that causes the common cold, within six to eight minutes of contact. Coronavirus is easier to destroy than rhinovirus, so hydrogen peroxide may be effective at combating that virus as well. Natural items can be used for general cleaning, but have not been endorsed for use on COVID-19 disinfection. In lieu of shortages, white vinegar, baking soda pastes and citrus oils and juices could fill the void of chemically-based cleansers for other home tasks. MetroCreatives
West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Saturday, September 19, 2020 E15
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E16 Saturday, September 19, 2020 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.
DID YOU KNOW? Investing in a home renovation project not only requires money, but also time and patience. While contractors, architects and designers can estimate how long a project may take, it is impossible to anticipate all of the scenarios that can affect that estimated timeline. Information from the real estate firm Keller Williams indicates an average kitchen remodel involving installation of new countertops, cabinets, appliances, and floors can take three to six months. But if ductwork, plumbing or wiring must be addressed, the job may take longer. A midline bathroom remodel may take two to three months. Adding a room to a house can take a month or two. The home improvement resource Renovation Junkies offers similar estimates, with the average home renovation taking between four and eight months. Homeowners need to consider time when planning their home projects. MetroCreatives
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