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Saturday, May 2, 2015An Advertising Feature of

The Topeka Capital-Journal

Jamie Hancock Garden Column – 2Designer Showhouse – opening weekend – 5

Service Directory – 7

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deSigner ShowhouSe phoToS by reX wolF/SpeCiAl To The CApiTAl-JournAl

Faux pressed white tin ceilings and crown molding were installed in the second floor guest bath designed by Lorrie Dickey of Lowe’s Home Improvement Center. A candelabra-shaped ceiling light fixture was also added to give the room added light and character.

2 | Saturday, May 2, 2015 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | At Home

Water conservation is a hot topic in western Kansas and the last few seasons have shown eastern Kansans that we should begin to consider what we might do to be prepared in the event we face water shortages. The average home landscape in eastern Kansas uses as much as 50 percent of the water in a household. Let’s look at what we can do to reduce that figure. All in favor of lower water bills, say “Aye!”

Most of us have an existing landscape that is probably not as water efficient as it could be. There is a list of principles to help you make the needed changes and they are titled, Xeriscaping.

Xeriscaping (zer-i-skaping) is a word

coined to describe landscaping with wa-ter conservation as a major objective. The derivation of the word is from the Greek “xeros,” meaning dry and landscaping – thus, xeriscaping.

1. Planning and design is a must either for an existing landscape or a brand new one. It does not have to be elaborate but must consider sun exposure on the site. South and west exposures have the great-est water loss especially near buildings and paved areas. You can save water here simply by installing low water use plants. Substituting plastic covered by rock or gravel is not a good idea. The increased soil temperature through passive solar heating causes a greater need for water in the surrounding areas. Also, the plastic in-creases water waste through run-off.

2. Steep slopes, especially with south or west exposures, waste water through run-off and rapid water evaporation. Plant a drought-resistant ground cover to slow the water and shade the soil. Place trees to shade a severe exposure. Terracing can also slow water allowing it time to soak

in. 3. Reduce irrigated turf areas by avoid-

ing narrow strips, odd shapes, and areas that are difficult to get water to or to main-tain.

4. The major key to water conservation is soil preparation. Very sandy soils leach water and nutrients. Heavy clay soils allow extensive run-off of precious water. Add one to two inches of organic matter annu-ally to these areas. For established gardens or lawns where root damage would occur when incorporating organic matter, place it around the plant (not next to the stem) and broadcast it across the lawn in late fall and let the winter freeze and thaw carry it into the ground.

5. Proper irrigation practices can save from 30-80 percent in water usage. If you have a sprinkler system be sure all areas are covered properly and that there is little or no watering of paved areas. Check for overwatered areas. Water turf areas dif-ferently from shrubs or flowers. North and

HANCOCK continues on 3A

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Jamie Hancock

What is xeriscaping

At Home | The Topeka Capital-Journal | Saturday, May 2, 2015 | 3

east exposures need less frequent water-ing than south or west. Water slopes more slowly than flat areas. Water according to the needs of the plants in amounts and timings. Consider using drip systems for shrub borders, narrow strips, and raised beds. Avoid frequent, swallow watering that encourages shallow roots. Water in-frequently and deeply. Trees and shrubs can be watered with deep root watering systems.

6. Mulching flower and shrubs beds helps reduce water use by decreasing evaporation, reducing soil temperatures, reducing wind exposure, and discourag-

ing weeds that compete for water. Using organic mulches such as wood chips, par-tially decomposed compose, or straw, etc. can also improve the soil.

7. Use lower-water-demand plants. Xe-ric plants are great once they are estab-lished but until that time they require sim-ilar water and care as high-water-demand plants. Only after their establishment can xeric plants be weaned and watered more sparingly. We must always consider water availability when deciding the timing of a change to a lower-water-demand land-scape. We currently do not have water ra-tioning or restrictions but it may come in the future. Now might be a good time to make changes. See Kansas State Univer-

sity publication MF2067, Low Water Use Plants for Kansas Landscapes at www.ksre.ksu.edu for good plant lists.

The Shawnee County Extension Master Gardeners have created a low-water, Xe-riscape garden in front of the Extension office. The plants are labeled for your con-venience. You will be able to see what they look like in a natural setting. The peren-nials, trees, and shrubs bloom at different times so you will want to visit the garden several times to see its beauty.

Let’s all consider what we can do to be better stewards of our water resources.

Jamie Hancock is a horticulturist with Kansas State Research and Extension in Shawnee County.

Note: The Master Gardener Annual Plant Sale Ex-travaganza is May 2 from 9am-noon in the Extension office parking lot at 1740 SW Western Ave., Topeka, KS. Come early. The plants go fast! Note: “Creative Container Gardening” is the pre-sentation that will be given by an Extension Master Gardener at the Topeka/Shawnee County Library Thursday, May 14 at 7:00pm. Note: “The First Time Gardener” is the presentation that will be given by an Extension Master Gardener at the Topeka/Shawnee County Library Thursday, May 28 at 7:00pm.

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Hancock: Mulch helps reduce water evaporation


By Angela DeinesSpecial to The Capital-Journal

Replacing the rectangular table for a round one in the dining room of the Washburn Uni-versity’s president’s home was more than just a design decision made as part of the 2015 De-signers’ Showhouse, “Stately Elegance.”

“It all boils down to the table,” said Dan Brungardt, designer of the home’s dining room. “The idea was that it is an academic roundtable. It’s the whole idea of people com-ing together and exchanging ideas and ex-changing them freely and not being afraid of who’s at the head. What it does is it creates an equalizing factor.”

Brungardt said the dark-stained oak round table is 64 inches in diameter and seats eight people but with the table’s “pie wedges” pulled out, it becomes 84-inches, seating up to 12. The crystal chandelier that was already in the dining room will remain intact as well as the original oblong table’s chairs that have been reupholstered.

The navy blue walls and drapes that let in more light add to the “drama” of the dining room, Brungardt said, as well as the five-foot by eight-foot painting of clouds from the Mul-vane Art Museum.

“The round table invites everyone to share their opinions,” added Jeanne Hoferer, co-chair of this year’s showhouse event. “It sym-bolizes that everyone’s opinion is equally important. It’s a wonderful symbolism for the academic nature of the house.”

The 1920s-era Colonial has been the Wash-burn president’s residence since 1970 and the home for Dr. Jerry and Susan Farley since 1997. The last major remodeling work was done in the late 1980s.

“It needed refreshing, it gets a lot of use,” Jerry Farley said, referring to weekly universi-ty-related events that are held at the residence. “It should be a home that spans the decades as a home for the Washburn president.”

Since moving out of the president’s resi-dence in October, Farley said he and his wife, Susan, have been fortunate to have been able to live in a vacant home across the street when major work on the residence’s heating, cool-ing, plumbing and electrical systems began in the fall. He said they expect to move back into the home in June after the showhouse tours have ended.

In addition to not living in the president’s home for about eight months, Farley said he’s been “living out of boxes” for work as well while Morgan Hall, Washburn’s administra-tion building, is also under construction.

Opening this past weekend and running until May 17, the 35th Annual Designers’ Showhouse is the largest fundraiser for Child Care Aware of Eastern Kansas. The non-profit organization provides services and informa-tion to families in order to make informed childcare decisions. It also provides profes-sional development opportunities for child-care providers.

Jolene Klausman, co-chair of this year’s showhouse event and wife of Jim Klausman,

a former Washburn regent, said being part of the annual fundraiser for Child Care Aware is also important to her on a personal level, not just as an active supporter of Washburn.

“I had no idea as a single mom that there

were places like this that could help you,” Jolene Klausman said. “It’s such a good ben-efit. It’s a double-win.”

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Designer Showhouse – Opening Weekend

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The round table in the Washburn president’s residence has “pie wedges” that can be expand-ed to make the 64-inch table into 84 inches, increasing the number seats from eight to 12. The place setting includes a top plate with a monogrammed “W.” The chairs that were used around the previous rectangular dining room table were reupholstered with a stain-resistant fabric. The chandelier, also original to the room, remains intact.


Choosing the Washburn University presi-dent’s home at 3130 S.W. Shadow Lane in To-peka’s Westboro neighborhood as this year’s Designers’ Showhouse coincided with the university’s 150th anniversary celebration and capital campaign, Hoferer said. She said it’s been a two-year planning process involving the Washburn board of regents, the univer-sity’s foundation and other Washburn sup-porters.

The major repairs on the home’s systems and other structural work were paid for out of the university’s facilities maintenance budget while the redecorating was paid for through private donations, Hoferer said.

“The university has always wanted to rep-resent the elegance and time period of the house,” Hoferer said. “Sometimes the show-houses have been a little eclectic. We didn’t want it eclectic so much in this house. We wanted it a stately elegance.”

In addition to the dining room, one of the most dramatic changes showhouse visitors will see will be to the third floor guest quar-ters designed by Connie Steinlage, Morgan Mills and Jan Sova who are commercial de-signers for Midwest Health, Inc., a company that operates assisted living facilities of which Jim Klausman is the president and CEO.

The low, slanted ceilings and awkward con-figuration of the two bedrooms and guest bath SHOWHOUSE continues on 10A

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Showhouse: Creating stately elegance

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The third floor guest suite was designed by Connie Steinlage, Jan Sova and Morgan Mills of Midwest Health Inc. A king-size bed was created out of two twin-sized beds for the east side guest bedroom. Wainscoting was added to the low, slanted ceilings to add interest to the room. Additional storage space was created behind the bed as well. Warm and cool neutral colors were painted on the walls in the guest rooms and bath to give the space a retreat or spa-like atmosphere.


Service Directory


made redesigning the space “technically chal-lenging,” Mills said.

“We closed off the dormer and put wain-scoting on the ceiling,” she said. “It really opened up the room. It was pretty cramped before.”

“To me it’s been challenging,” Steinlage added, “to come up with what they want in the house and within the budget.”

Hoferer said the most “daunting task” she and Jolene Klausman have undertook as co-chairs for this year’s showhouse has been to provide leadership for the more than 500 volunteers who are serving as docents and other capacities for the showhouse tours. She

said several campus organizations have been asked to volunteer their time so visitors can see “Washburn faces” as they wind their way through the three floors of the president’s residence.

Julia Meyers, curator of collections and ex-hibitions for the Mulvane Art Museum, said visitors will also see about 15 paintings from the museum on the walls of the showhouse. Meyers and Connie Gibbons, the Mulvane’s director, worked together with the showhouse designers to choose the paintings that would work well with the new wall colors.

“We normally don’t work with designers so it’s been a new experience,” Meyers said. “The best part about it is that we don’t have that much exhibition space in the museum.

We have six pretty small galleries. It’s nice to be able to show pieces that we haven’t been able to show for a long time.”

In the meantime, Hoferer said she and Jolene Klausman have been thankful to be part of the showhouse and the restoration of the Washburn president’s residence as a part of the overall revitalization of the university.

“The thing about Washburn is that is it so important to the Topeka community,” Hoferer said. “We want Washburn to stay vibrant.”

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Showhouse: Displaying pieces from the Mulvane Art Museum

THAD ALLTON/THe CApiTAL-JOurNAL

Many of the original fixtures stayed intact for the second floor master bathroom. Neutral soft white tiles were installed to give the look of stone to complement the off-white walls.

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