fall home improvement 2015

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Improvement

The Crescent-News

Special Edition

2015

Hardwood project inspiration: page 2Pro tips for painting: page 14

More options with vinyl siding: page 3

Skylights may help improve SAD: page 7Heated driveways: shovel no more: page 4

Curb appeal for resale: page 6

Garden through fall’s chill: page 15Top tile trends: page 10

Important shower know how: page 5

1

2 Fall Home Improvement 2015 The Crescent-News -Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Let hardwood inspire your next home project(BPT) — If you’re look-

ing to upgrade your home’s exterior, include American hardwoods in the mix. New, environmentally friendly treatment methods now make hardwood an excellent and great looking material choice for outdoor living spaces.

“American hardwoods in outdoor applications used to be taboo,” said Linda Jovanovich of the American Hardwood Information Center. “These days, restrictions and concerns are distant memories, and hardwoods are confidently being installed outdoors as siding, decking, fences — you name it — thanks to non-chemical heat treat-ments that improve the dimensional stability and durability of this wonderful product.”

A recipe for successThermal modification is a

non-toxic process that sim-ply “cooks” wood in heat.

During the process, oxygen is removed from the oven to prevent the wood from burning. The high heat — in excess of 400 F — produces a naturally durable wood that is permanently resis-tant to water, insects and decay.

Bob Miller, director of sales and marketing intel-ligence at Frank Miller Lumber Company, said that because the treatment process drastically reduces modified wood’s moisture content and limits its ability to absorb moisture, prod-ucts are more dimensionally stable — making them less prone to cupping, warping, expansion, and contraction with changes in humidity.

“The process also removes organic compounds from wood’s cells, eliminating a food source for insects and fungi,” Miller added. “Simply put, thermally modified wood is a natural and healthy alternative to

chemically preserved, pres-sure-treated wood. And it’s affordably priced, too.”

At home in the outdoors

Successfully used in Europe since the 1980s, thermally modified wood has been slow to migrate to

America. But, Scott Seyler, who handles export sales at Northland Forest Products,

Photo courtesy of Brandpoint

Through thermal modification, American Hardwoods are ideal for out-door home-improvement projects, such

as this sweet elm EcoWood flooring by Atlanta Hardwood Corporation.

•hArdwood,Page4

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The Crescent-News -Wednesday, September 16, 2015 Fall Home Improvement 2015 3

More protection, more textures and more value now given by vinyl siding

(BPT) — While vinyl sid-ing has historically been the most-used siding material in the U.S., its continuing advancements are allowing even more choice when it comes to two critical quali-ties desired by homeown-ers: outstanding curb appeal and low maintenance. Add to this the growing inter-est by homeowners to save energy and the increasing green measures being taken by builders, and insulated vinyl siding stands out as a versatile choice.

More value is being creat-ed by marrying texture and toughness, enabling beauti-ful and extremely durable homes. The toughest vinyl siding exteriors are code-compliant for hurricane zones and offer maximum possible fire resistance rat-

ings.For example, with sev-

eral new stone siding pro-files in its Foundry Stone Collection and the most comprehensive color palette for cedar shake and shingle panels, Foundry premium vinyl siding by the Tapco Group has emerged as a cladding of choice in storm-prone and moisture-rich coastal areas. Its durability, low maintenance and lim-ited lifetime warranty are factors making it popular in locations such as Virginia Beach, the Carolina coast and communities through-out Alabama. Unlimited by geography, Foundry siding is found nationally, from whole-house applica-tions in western New York and South Florida to gable accents in the Great Lakes and Mountain West.

“It has great looks and I like the fact that it meets the strict Florida building code wind load require-ment,” said George Williams, owner of Precision Homecrafters in Birmingham, Ala. “With the cedar shake profile, until you walk up and touch it, you don’t know that it’s vinyl.”

Foundry siding’s robust strength withstands the harshest conditions. With a windload exceeding 170 mph, it also features highest-rating Class 1(A) fire resistance and 60-inch pound-plus-impact resis-

tance. At the same time, it is easily cut with snips and comes in efficient 5-foot panels, so a single installer can quickly side a home.

Homeowner Marsha Wallace had 27 squares of Foundry Siding installed on her Virginia Beach, Va., home.

“Everyone who has seen the house is amazed when they get up really close and realize it’s vinyl siding,” she said. “They don’t believe it until they get up real-ly close and examine it. It looks like brand new shake and doesn’t look like your typical siding job at all. The freedom from maintenance is very attractive.”

George Williams, the Alabama builder, also appreciates the low main-tenance.

“I put Foundry siding on my home,” noted Williams. “People see it and they real-ly like it.”

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molds of real cedar and stone, authenticity is built into these premium vinyl panels. In addition to the easy-installing 5-inch panel lengths, it includes propri-etary multi-tone Weathered Collection colors and also a stone siding profile, featur-ing the finely tuned detail

of integrated grout lines.“A very important aspect

is being maintenance-free. The last thing that many homeowners want to do is literal ‘home’ work. Time-saving products like the Foundry that reduce main-tenance can be a huge ben-

Vinyl siding has changed consider-ably over the years and now is made to look like cedar shakes. It also is very

durable, standing up to winds in hur-ricane zones and also offers high fire resistance ratings.


•vinYl,Page5

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said the durability and dimensional stability of thermally modified hard-woods are major advantag-es that interest homeowners who are exploring outdoor home-improvement proj-ects.

“With all that thermally modified wood offers, it’s quickly becoming popular for siding, decking, trim, and flooring,” Seyler explained. “Depending on the specific treatment process, locally sourced ash, poplar, maple, and other hardwoods are performing just as well, if not better than cedar, popu-lar imported species, and composite materials.”

Finishing it offThrough the thermal

modification process, a rich chocolate color results, highlighting the wood’s natural beauty and provid-ing a luxurious look. But like any other wood, over time, if not sealed, thermal-ly modified hardwood will naturally weather to a shade of gray because of exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

“Most homeowners prefer the rich, dark color of the modified wood, and choose not to apply a stain or to cover the grain pattern with paint,” said Hal Mitchell, vice president of domestic sales at Atlanta Hardwood Corporation. “We do, how-ever, recommend applying a UV-inhibitor sealant to all sides and ends of the wood, to preserve its color and prevent graying.” He added that, “Since thermally modi-fied hardwood is resistant to water, water-based fin-ishes may not perform well. We’ve found that oil-based sealants and finishes work best.

“I have a screened-in porch with tongue-and-groove flooring made from thermally modified sweet gum,” Mitchell said. “It looks fantastic and is per-forming well because it doesn’t cup from exposure to the elements. The materi-al is great for outdoor appli-cations if sealed properly. No other wood can do that based on my experience.”

hArdwoodFrom Page 2Heated driveways: Say goodbye to the snow shovel?

While the rest of the neighborhood was digging out, Alex Geier had little problem leaving his Hinsdale, Ill., house around 7:30 a.m. each morn-ing last winter, no matter how much snow had piled up during the night.

No, Geier didn’t pay some kid to shovel at the crack of dawn, and he didn’t hire a private plow service.

He and his family were able to navigate even snowy mornings with relative ease thanks to a heated drive-way, which melts snow as soon as it hits it.

“It’s a classic example how you can’t put a price tag on peace of mind,” said Geier, who put in the (pricy) heated driveway when his house was built in 2005. “Given the climate of Chicago in the winter, it was really nice not to have to shovel.”

As posh as it sounds, a whole lot of people are looking into heated drive-ways after an unusually harsh winter in much of the country.

“It’s becoming more and more popular because of an aging popula-tion of boomers who are just tired of shoveling,” said Bryan Morris, director of sales for Warmzone, a Utah-based company that designs

and supplies radiant heat systems. “We sell a great deal to whoever gets snow.”

David Veron, who owns The Veron Co., a landscape and design busi-ness in Marlborough, Mass., sees the popularity of heated driveways as part of a larger trend: Homeowners are trying to build outdoor spaces they can use year-round.

In addition to driveways, his cus-tomers are heating walkways that lead to amenities such as hot tubs and fire pits. “It’s nice to sit around those in the winter,” Veron said. “But if you have to shovel first, it’s too much of a chore.”

Morris said the uptick in business started last winter: “People were call-ing us saying, ‘I can’t keep up.’”

Interest has persisted, since the warmer months are prime time for doing the work to install heated driveways.

That generally entails ripping up the existing driveway and laying down snow-melting cables and mats, which can then be covered with asphalt, concrete or pavers, Morris said.

You can zone a driveway so that one part of it is heated and another isn’t. And heated driveways can be

programmed to turn on automati-cally when the temperature drops to a certain level.

Although heated driveways unquestionably qualify as luxury items, Morris said there are so many ways to design and build them that they don’t have to be cost-prohibi-tive. Prices range from, say, $6,000 for a small driveway that’s about 30 feet long to the $50,000 that Geier paid for his 200-foot-long driveway.

The cost of electricity is also a fac-tor. Again, it depends on the size of the driveway, although Morris said that heating a small driveway for the duration of a typical six-hour storm could cost as little as $13.

A driveway heated by electricity is also cheaper than one heated by hydronics, or hot water systems. The choice often depends on the house’s heating system, Morris said.

And many homeowners, he said, heat just enough of the driveway to drive their car out.

Despite his peace of mind last win-ter, Geier, who is selling his Hinsdale house, said he doesn’t think he’ll put a heated driveway in his new home given the cost and other issues, like having to still shovel walkways and sidewalks.

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Several important things you should know about your shower

(BPT) — You use it to get clean, refresh, relax or get invigorated, but how much do you really know about your shower? Did you know that the aver-age shower lasts eight min-utes in America, or that the shower is the third largest source of water use in the average American home? With conserving water and saving money and time becoming increasingly important to many peo-ple, here are some of the most important things you should know about your shower:

• Not all showerheads are created equal. Different showerheads emit water at different rates, and that “flow rate” affects how efficient a showerhead is or isn’t. Federal law lim-its the maximum allowable flow rate to 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm) for shower-heads, but some have even lower flow rates. The less water that comes out of the showerhead per minute, the less water that will get wasted down the drain. If your showerhead pre-dates 1980, it could be using more than 5 gpm. Replacing a less efficient showerhead with one that has a lower flow rate, like GROHE showerheads and hand

showers with EcoJoy tech-nology, can save water and money, without sacrificing your shower experience.

• You can renovate a shower without tearing through the wall. Updating a shower can improve its efficiency and your shower experience, yet the potential need to open a bathroom wall may make you hesi-tate. Shower renovation, however, doesn’t have to require major re-plumb-ing. The GROHE Retro-Fit Shower System can be installed in less than an hour, it connects to your existing plumbing system without breaking the tile wall, and comes standard with a hand shower as well as a traditional shower-head. With three recently introduced models, the sys-tem makes it easy to reno-vate a shower and update a bathroom, even if you’re a renter who wants a quick

and easy upgrade.• Thermostatic valves

provide a customized, con-sistent shower. How much water goes down the show-er drain while you’re wait-ing for the temperature to reach a comfortable level? Adding a shower with a thermostatic valve not only ensures you’ll never again step into an icy shower stream or be surprised by a temperature fluctuation, it can also reduce the amount of water you use. If you’re planning a bathroom reno-vation, a professional can easily install a thermostatic valve that will ensure water reaches the desired temper-ature sooner and stays at the temperature throughout your shower.

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Six curb appeal boosters that increase your home’s resale value

(BPT) — Whether you just bought a new home or have lived in yours for years, home improvement seems to come with the ter-ritory. It’s understandable — you want your home to feel like it’s your home, which means matching your tastes. That said, it lit-erally pays to think about how much resale value any improvement is likely to bring. After all, it’s your biggest investment.

With return on invest-ment in mind, here are six top exterior improvements that not only pay you back,

they’ll also pay dividends every time you (and the neighbors) gaze at your gor-geous home.

• Upgrade landscaping — What’s one of the fast-est (and most affordable) things home makeover shows do to spruce up a house? Put in new plants and lay down fresh mulch. Just a few new flowering plants and shrubs make any home looked cared for. And that layer of mulch gives a fresh look that welcomes any buyer at your doorstep.

• Install outdoor light-

ing — More than just a wel-come safety feature, exteri-or lighting gives your home a warm, inviting glow. Landscape lighting high-lights architectural details, spotlights your beautiful new plants (see the first tip) and helps would-be buyers envision relaxing evenings outdoors. The best part? It need not be expensive. You can hire a professional to do a simple landscape light plan. Or go the solar gar-den light route with a quick trip to your local home improvement store and do it in an afternoon.

• Add a deck — For out-door improvements with great ROI, it’s hard to beat a wood deck. Not only does wood typically cost less than other materials, it gives a higher return when you sell your home. A wood deck that costs around $10,000 to build gives you back more than 80 percent of that investment when you sell your home, according to Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value report. That’s a

higher ROI than you’d get with a composite deck, by the way. And if you’re con-cerned about carbon foot-print, here’s where wood shines. Plastic composite decks use 15 times more energy than wood decks — and 87 percent of that energy comes from carbon-emitting fossil fuels.

• Replace siding — Not only does siding protect your home, it’s one of the top features that contribute to curb appeal. If your sid-ing is damaged, old and worn, replacing it can add significant value. And if you go with natural siding

materials like pine, cedar or redwood, which are today’s trends, you add a boost to your home’s look that any buyer is bound to notice.

• Paint — Nothing’s faster at improving appear-ance than a fresh coat of paint. And it’s wonderfully affordable if you do the job yourself. Resale tip: go with popular exterior paint col-ors like white or off-white, grays, neutrals like putty, warm yellows, or light blues-the colors you expect to see on a well-maintained home.

• Replace old windows — If the eyes are the win-dows into the soul, then windows are the way to let light and soul-nourish-ing views into your home. Beyond their beauty, win-dows also affect your home’s energy efficiency. If yours are old and inef-ficient, consider meeting both needs at once using wood replacement win-dows. Remodeling Magazine says they return nearly 79 percent of their cost when you sell your home, a high-er ROI than vinyl windows.

These are just some of the top ways you can enhance your home’s curb appeal and value.

For other tips, tricks and trends on exterior improve-ments and interior design ideas like natural wood pergolas, feature walls and ceilings, visit www.wood-naturally.com.


Some ways to boost the curb appeal of your home is to install fresh landscaping, a new coat of paint and new windows.

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Skylights can help improve moods during long winter

(BPT) — Three percent of the U.S. population suffers from seasonal affective dis-order (SAD) every winter, according to Psychology Today. But you don’t have to be diagnosed with an actual disorder to suffer a bad case of the winter blues, it can happen to anyone. Since climate and environ-ment have a lot to do with causing winter doldrums, you might find engaging in some home improvement projects can make you feel happier and healthier this winter.

Freshening your space can feel good any time of year, but certain projects are perfectly aligned to give you a much-needed mood boost when it turns cold or wet weather sets in. Here are four projects that not only can brighten your out-look, they can also be good for your wallet:

• Install skylightsAvoiding SAD is prefer-

able to treatment and sky-lights can help you maxi-mize the amount of natural light that enters your home this winter. More natural light is good for you on

many levels.Sunlight stimulates

the body’s production of Vitamin D and increases the levels of serotonin in your brain; lower serotonin lev-els are thought to be associ-ated with depression, lack of energy, elevated appetite and excessive sleepiness. What’s more, if you opt for Energy Star-qualified solar-powered fresh-air skylights, like those made by Velux America, you can also help improve indoor air qual-ity. These skylights open, providing passive ventila-tion to allow stale indoor air to escape and fresh air to enter, and they close auto-matically in case of rain.

Skylights can also be good for your financial health. Solar powered skylights, along with solar powered blinds, as well as installa-tion costs, are eligible for a 30 percent federal tax credit. Also, more natural light in your home on a dark winter day can help decrease your need for artificial lighting. And sunshine can help warm the interior of your home and support the work your furnace does to keep

the house comfortable.Skylights can be installed

in many areas of your home with kitchens and baths being among the most popular choices for more natural light, fresh air, and privacy. Even areas without direct roof access, like hall-ways and closets, can ben-efit from more natural light through tubular Sun Tunnel skylights. Visit www.whys-kylights.com to learn more.

• Replace your garage door

If you’re like most people, you probably don’t think much about your garage door or the impact it has on how your home looks and feels. Yet the garage door is a huge surface area that

directly affects your home’s curb appeal and its ability to retain heat in the winter.

A great deal of warm air can escape a home through

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Simple design tricks (BPT) — Whether you’ve

just moved into a home or you’ve lived there for years, it might be time for a design tune-up. While many may think tackling their home decor takes a bundle of time, money and exper-tise, it doesn’t have to be so frightening. You don’t need to spend a fortune or go to design school to breathe a little life into your home.

“It’s all about simplicity,” said Susan Yoder, interior design expert for Clayton Homes. “A little goes a long way when it comes to home decor and living spaces. Only a few simple changes can make a big difference and allow you to create a room you’ll be itching to show off to friends and family.”

Yoder offers a few of her design tips that will help any homeowner revamp their space:

• Pops of color. “Nothing livens up a room

like a bright pop of color,” Yoder said. If you have neutral-toned furniture, try sprucing up the room with lamps, curtains and acces-sories in bold hues. If you’re up for a painting challenge,

an accent wall is a great way to incorporate color into a space. Choose your favorite color from a throw pillow or wall-art piece in the room to pull the look together.

• Varying textures. A room tends to get bor-

ing when it focuses on only one texture, so it’s impor-tant to create a sense of bal-ance. Try varying the fabric types on your sofa and cur-tains. Add in some metal or wooden accents to draw the eye around the room. You can even play with lighting to reflect off certain objects and create visual interest.

• Antique feature. Choose an antique or

unique piece of decor to be the inspiration for the room. This could be a rug, lamp, chair or even a chandelier — anything that gets you energized and motivated. Get creative and run with the theme it creates. Or if your style is more on the modern side, an antique object will stand out among your contemporary decor.

• Symmetrical yet func-tional.

The furniture collection in a room should form a restful, symmetrical layout.

It’s all about balance. There should be between three and 10 feet between each seat. Additionally, instead of pushing each piece up against the wall to create more space, give your fur-niture a bit of breathing room a few inches from the wall. This makes the room appear open and airy.

• Clutter-free organiza-tion.

Getting rid of clutter is a grand challenge for most homeowners. When you decide to take on the mess, drawers and cabinets are your best friends. Take some time to go through your belongings and decide what to keep, donate or

throw away. Store any left-over items that can cause clutter in an organized, out-of-sight area.

Use these tips to revital-ize your space and you’ll be ready to confidently host gatherings and enjoy your home instead of shy-ing away from your living space.

Simple design tricks can breathe new life into a room without a lot of

financial expense, such as getting rid of clutter.


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around and above it. Have a game room over the garage that’s chilly in win-ter? The garage door could be to blame.

Replacing an old, unin-sulated garage door with a new insulated model can improve heat retention. And a new garage door is a great way to update your home’s facade.

• Replace an old appli-ance (or as many as you can afford)

If you’re already bummed by winter, hav-ing to live with old, beat-up, inefficient appliances will only add to your frus-tration. Plus, older appli-ances generally use more electricity and water than newer models.

Replacing an old refrig-erator, dishwasher, clothes washer or dryer with Energy Star-qualified appliances can help reduce your energy and water consumption — and bills. It’s also an improvement that you can feel good about because it’s the per-fect marriage of practical-ity (you really need appli-ances that function well) and enjoyment (all those bells and whistles just make the work more fun).

• Declutter and add organizers

You may not think of cleanup as a legitimate home improvement, but

decluttering and orga-nizing your environment can definitely boost your mood. In American homes, the problem of clutter has reached staggering propor-tions. More than half of Americans (54 percent) say they feel overwhelmed by the amount of clutter in their homes, and 78 per-cent have no idea what to do with it, according to a recent survey by the National Association for

Professional Organizers and Declualsottr.com.

Grab some trash bags and start cleaning house. Trash the things that are clearly junk, donate things that are still usable but not by you and set aside the things you want to keep. Invest in some closet, cabi-net and drawer organiz-ers. Add storage cubbies to a mud room or entryway and create storage space in your garage.

winterFrom Page 7

How to live more comfortably in a small space (BPT) — As we seek to simplify

our lives, the desire for small-space living — even one-room living — seems more attractive than ever. But whether you’re ready to join the tiny house movement or just want to get the most out of a com-pact space in your home, there are easy things you can do to make a small space look, feel and function like a larger one.

“There’s no need to sacrifice great design if you live in a small space. A few simple changes are all you need to make it feel big-ger, more beautiful and a reflection

of your personality,” said Jackie Jordan, director of color marketing, Sherwin-Williams.

Look overhead and underfoot. Consider using every conceivable space to please the eye — even the ceiling.

“I love the idea of reflecting the shape of your dining room table with a bold accent color on the ceil-ing above it,” said Jordan. Another idea: define a space at the floor level with an area rug beneath a couch and side table.

Multitasking solutions If you’re always multitasking,

your furniture can do the same. Place an ottoman with a hidden storage compartment or flip-top serving tray beside a comfy chair. Move a twin bed next to the wall and add big patterned pillows to create seating space by day, and sleeping space by night. The pil-lows can also provide extra floor seating for entertaining.

The answer is written on the wall

Walls can also be multifunctional. Sketch Pad, a clear gloss coating, can turn any surface into a dry erase board, and goes over any

paint color. Instead of cluttering up the walls with bulletin boards, write directly on the wall by a com-puter desk, or scribble messages and doodles in the kitchen. Simply wipe it clean with a dry eraser.

Have lofty ambitions Consider creating a sleeping loft.

It’s not only cozy, but leaves extra living space below. A Murphy bed that folds up discreetly into the wall is another space saver.

Find a focal point It can make a space feel larger.

Try painting a corner, such as a •smAll sPAce,Page16

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Dress up floors with top tile trends(BPT) — If you are ren-

ovating any area of your home, it may be time to try something new — such as bringing tile into main living areas in addition to your bathrooms and kitch-en. New designs, styles and technologies are making tile the most versatile and accessible flooring material.

“Tile has always been durable and easy to main-tain,” said Kevin McDaniel, director of product devel-opment and design services for the Tile Shop, which sells tile and natural stone at more than 100 retail show-rooms across the country, from Arizona to New York.

“Tile has a long life span and classic good looks, making it a favorite flooring of choice wherever home-owners need a floor mate-rial that’s both practical and beautiful. Even more design

options are available now, making tile a smart floor surface in virtually any room of the home.”

Homeowners, build-ers, designers and product developers are thinking outside the box when incor-porating tile into renova-tions and new builds. From bringing tile flooring up the wall, to using the same tile flooring across multiple rooms, to using water jet technology, they’re working with tile in non-traditional ways. Here are some top tile trends to consider for your interior design project:

• The look of real wood with a rustic finish. Many of the larger-format faux wood tiles mimic the look of real hardwood floors. Less expensive and more durable than real wood, these tile floors are prac-tical yet beautiful choices

for active households with children and pets. Details evoke the character of real wood, right down to the nails.

“Rustic faux wood is mak-ing a huge splash because of its warm, earthy coloring and unusual time-worn fin-ishes such as aged paint, a finish hard to achieve with real wood. I foresee it con-tinuing to be a very popu-lar design trend,” McDaniel said.

• Those longer tile planks. While standard square tile sizes will always have their place in home decor, rectangular tiles — otherwise known as planks — are gaining popularity. New 12-by-24-inch tiles are a hot choice in bathrooms and 6-by-36-inch tiles or 8-inch by 8-feet planks (often in wood-grained looks) are a favorite for liv-ing areas.

“Using longer planks can help smaller spaces

look larger, and create an appealing consistency across multiple rooms,” said McDaniel. “While con-sumers may be familiar with traditional tile shapes such as square or hexagon, these longer tiles offer excit-ing new design flexibility.”

• That poured concrete look. While concrete is a trendy design material right

now, it’s not practical for every household or appli-cation. New tile styles cre-ate the look of poured or stained concrete at a frac-tion of the cost, and with all the durability, versa-tility and ease associated with tile. Tile options range from long rectangular 8-by-18-inch or 12-by-24-inch planks to 18-by-18-inch squares. Tiles are rectified — the edge is cut complete-ly straight-and grout joints are very narrow to further create the look of seamless concrete.

• The warmth of heat-ed floors. While heated floors were once a luxury option for homeowners, they’re becoming increas-ingly mainstream. Tile lends itself to radiant heat beneath the floor. The Tile Shop carries a full line of accessories, including ther-mostats, which can control the heat in any floor in your home. This includes both the shower floor and show-er benches.

• Unconventional grout and tile design ideas. Using a high-contrast grout color can make the floor pop, and it’s a tactic that works well with mosaic designs. Choosing the right grout color is just as important as the tile you select. Also popular is the concept of mosaic designs that mimic an area rug within a larger section of tile flooring and create the look of custom art within the floor.


A light palette of cool grey tones gives this rustic faux wood floor in this bathroom a down-to-earth appearance.

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Home inventories can help in case there is a natural disaster Wild weather has become

more common, the experts say, and homeowners can prepare for natural disas-ters by making home inven-tories — detailed lists of household belongings and their approximate value.

Making a home inven-tory can be easy; there are inexpensive or free services, apps and software.

“The format is not nearly as important as just hav-ing some kind of list,” said Jeanne Salvatore of the New York-based Insurance Information Institute, a non-profit that helps educate the public about insurance.

“Just going around your home with a pen and paper taking notes, or making a video with your smartphone of yourself walking around your home and describing the things around you can make a world of difference when you need to make a claim.”

And home inventories aren’t just for the rich.

“Regular people, wheth-er they’re homeowners or renters, need home inven-tories way more than the wealthy, because they need the money more,” Salvatore said. “People always say they don’t have a lot of stuff. But if you add up the cost of your bed, with your mattress, mattress cover, bed frame and maybe a few suits hanging in your clos-et, some high-tech items or small appliances, and your bike or golf clubs, it eas-ily adds up to thousands of

dollars. And you’re going to really depend on that money to get up and run-ning again after a disaster.”

The industry estimates that less than 40 percent of households have a detailed inventory of their belong-ings, and that having one may halve the time it takes to process a claim, or even mean the difference between being reimbursed for a loss or not.

Inventories also can help you determine whether you have enough insurance coverage. If you find your insurance doesn’t cover everything, a home inven-tory can facilitate applying for aid or deducting unre-imbursed losses from your taxes in the event of a disas-ter, Salvatore said.

To put together a basic home inventory, just make a list of your belongings and their estimated value and store it in a safe place.

Get in the habit of taking photos and saving receipts when buying valuable items. If you don’t have a receipt, a copy of a credit card bill is helpful, as are serial numbers and photos, or even notes about where an item was purchased.

Once you have a list, make two copies: Put one in a safety deposit box or other secure, off-site place, and send the other to a trusted friend in another part of the country.

While software pro-grams are plentiful and free or inexpensive, there are advantages to hiring a home inventory company

to get the job done — and the cost (generally between $500 and $800) can save thousands of dollars in potential losses.

“The benefit of a having an experienced third party do the inventory is there’s no dispute of claim. There’s so much fraud out there, and having a third party

eliminates that burden of proof that it’s not fraud,” said Carrie Mitchell, found-er of the Colorado-based TWS Home Inventory, with offices in New York and Florida.

She started her company after volunteering to help fire victims in Colorado Springs.

Know Your Stuff is a free phone application put out by the Insurance Information Institute, and a wide range of software and services is also avail-able from insurance compa-nies and independent home inventory companies.

Associated Press

• inventories,Page12

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While it’s helpful to include your insurance pol-icy number and insurance agent’s phone number on the list, it isn’t necessary to send the list to your insur-ance company unless you want to be sure you have adequate coverage.

Inventories do take time to put together, but the whole family can get involved. Kids can do their own rooms, for example,

photographing their com-puters, electronic devices, sporting goods and other belongings, Salvatore said.

“Most insurance compa-nies don’t require receipts so much as just knowing you had a leather couch, what kind it was and what sort of condition it was in,” said Scott Spencer, world-wide appraisal manager for the Warren, New Jersey-based Chubb Personal Insurance company.

Update your home inventory annually, he

said: “If you do it at the same time every year it’s easy to remember. I usu-ally update mine around my birthday.”

The most challenging areas are usually attics, basements, closets and other storage areas where things are stashed in boxes.

“Take a look at your garage and ask yourself what you’d want to claim if it went up in smoke. It might be as simple as detailing and photograph-ing gardening and sport-ing equipment,” said Salvatore.

The most commonly underestimated area is the wardrobe, Spencer said. Most people wear the same few outfits over and over again, but the value of everything in your closet can add up to a lot.

Also, be sure to include sentimental or irreplace-able items, like art, he said. “Even if you can’t replace that $500 painting on your wall, documenting it will allow you to replace it with another $500 painting, as opposed to a poster. There are way more things than diamonds that have real value.”

inventoriesFrom Page 11

High end kitchen design that won’t break the bank(BPT) — Ninety-eight per-

cent of people believe good design enhances their daily lives, and they’re willing to pay more for products that truly reflect their own personal style and aesthetic, according to a new study from Dwell. Drawing the line between “splurging” on those premium items that bring a design vision to life and finding ways to “save” money on the back end can sometimes be a bit challenging.

When it comes to quality-versus-quantity in kitchen design, you really can have it all if you know where and how to look — particularly when it comes to the latest design and technological advancements that enhance

our everyday lives.“When designing a high-

end space, it’s important to remember that you’re shap-ing more than just a living environment; you’re laying the foundation for a future community of friends and family,” said Michela O’Connor Abrams, presi-dent and CEO of Dwell, the award-winning design media company. “Design elements that marry beau-tiful aesthetics, intuitive technology and function-ality, and that are reflec-tive of your authentic taste and personal style, should always rise to the top when deciding which products to introduce into your home.”

Dwell on Design 2015, America’s largest design

show, just wrapped up in Los Angeles. A highlight of the 10th annual show was the launch of the new LG Studio line of applianc-es inspired by renowned designer, Nate Berkus. The new appliances blend best-in-class technological inno-vation with an uncompro-mising approach to design, delivering integrated and timeless styling that embod-ies high design tailor-made for any kitchen aesthetic.

“Every family has a dif-ferent sense of personal style, and the beauty of design is seeing that per-sonality uniquely reflected in each home,” said Berkus, LG Studio’s artistic advisor. “When we were designing the new line of appliances, I wanted to help people cre-ate a kitchen that was hard-

working, but also hand-some — a space they would love now and in the future. The best interiors are ones that tell a story and are assembled over time.”

In conceptualizing and creating a high-end kitch-en, Berkus offered a few suggestions to consumers on which aspects of kitch-en design require a large investment and where they can afford to hold back.

First, Berkus recommend-ed installing a well-made marble counter top.

“It’s such a classic piece but also very durable, mean-ing it will still look great for years to come, which is what a forever kitchen is all about,” he said.

Lighting, on the other hand, is an opportunity to


Cut back on items such as lighting and spend more on a high-quality counter top and on the best appliances that you can afford as they will last longer. •kitchen,Page13

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save.“The trick is to take the

time to shop for vintage sconces and light fixtures. They will add loads of character to your home but don’t have to cost a lot,” said Berkus.

Another way to add character to your kitchen is flooring. Think vin-tage wood flooring, said Berkus. It’s a splurge, but so worth it. You can then save on new cabinetry by painting the existing ones in a black lacquer or gray.

“I’ve done this in my own home renovations and for clients. The effect is so great, no one will know you didn’t spend a fortune on new cabinets.”

When it comes to appli-ances, look for premium stainless models at the best you can afford, Berkus noted. Hardworking appli-ances that can go the dis-tance are worth every cent.

“The new LG Studio line that I advised on fea-tures pro-style design ele-ments that instantly make a kitchen feel high end,” said Berkus.

For dressing up your kitchen, shop your home and use things you already own. Objects from your travels, framed photo-graphs, ceramic bowls or

hand-woven baskets are all things that personalize a space and make it feel layered.

“I love the idea of doing something unexpected in the kitchen, like creating a seating area in your kitch-en space,” said Berkus. Shop your weekend flea market or online for a vin-tage sofa and coffee table and set up an area for your family to relax in.

Where consumers can

splurge instead is in tech-nology, like the new LG Studio gas slide-in range. Its patented ProBake Convection and EasyClean Express technologies allow for more even cooking across every rack and, once the baking is done, quick and easy clean-up in just a matter of minutes without using any harsh chemicals.

It’s important to remem-ber the goal is always to design a kitchen that won’t

feel dated in one year, or even five years from now. Every element of your kitchen needs to go the dis-tance, whether you splurge or save on those desired elements that bring your personal style to life.

kitchenFrom Page 12

There are many decorating solutions in creating a home office Maybe you dash off work

emails while making din-ner, or you squeeze in a half-hour of work on a spreadsheet before bedtime. The line between “at work” and “at home” has become a blurry one for many peo-ple, and for others it has disappeared entirely. That makes a home workspace more necessary than ever.

Not every home includes a spare room available for use as an office, but design experts say that’s not a problem: Today’s stream-lined technology means that just about any space can be transformed into an

appealing and organized area for working.

“Walk into any creative corporation and you’ll find the CEO sitting right smack in the middle of a large, open space along with almost every other key player,” said design-er Brian Patrick Flynn of Flynnside Out Productions. “This relaxed, informal atmosphere has become the norm, not just in corpo-rate settings but also in the home.”

Here, Flynn and two other interior designers — New York City-based Young Huh and Danielle Colding — offer advice on creating a home work area that’s both

practical and inspiring.

PART OF A ROOM IS PERFECT

With today’s smaller com-puters and wireless connec-tions, there’s less need for a boxy desktop and con-necting cables. A desk built into a wall of shelving and cabinets can often serve as a fully functioning home office. So unless your work requires total concentration and silence, don’t give up an entire room even if you have one available. And built-in pieces don’t have to be expensive.

“I turned dead space into a mini-home office by configuring Ikea kitchen

cabinets and a laminate countertop as a tall work-station,” Flynn said. “You can assemble it all your-self and have the counter cut to size at a local home improvement store.” Once the pieces are installed, “it looks architectural, almost like it’s always been part of the home.”

Or installing these items in a bedroom closet creates a mini-office that can easily be closed off for privacy.

In a New York City apart-ment, Colding opened up the wall between the liv-ing room and a small bed-room that had been used as an office. She filled one wall with built-in shelving,

cabinetry and a desktop, so the now-larger living room still offered a complete workspace. And she added a Murphy bed along that wall so the room could still accommodate an overnight visitor.

Associated Press

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Five tips for painting like a professional

(BPT) — Cool fall months are the perfect time for a colorful home refresh. With open windows, cool weath-er and the tips below, you can check painting off your list in a breeze and head back outdoors to enjoy the weather.

• Buy high-quality paint for the best coverage and deepest color saturation.

When it comes to paint, quality matters. Search for a combination paint-and-primer to save a few steps and ensure complete cov-erage. Good options have high hiding ability and resist dirt and scuffs.

BEHR MARQUEE Interior Paint & Primer is a great example. This durable paint offers a one-coat guarantee when tinted to one of 372 classic and

contemporary hues in the BEHR MARQUEE Interior One-Coat Color Collection. It’s scrubbable and with a one-coat guarantee, you can spend less time painting and more time on the lake, in the yard or with your friends and family.

BEHR MARQUEE is available at the Home Depot stores nationwide. For more information, visit BEHR.com/MARQUEEguarantee.

• Use websites and apps tools to simplify your search.

Once you’ve chosen your product, it’s time to pick a color. Color selection can seem intimidating, but it’s a chance to infuse your per-sonality into your home. Many online resources are available for homeowners to explore, coordinate and

experiment with different looks. Pinterest, Houzz and Apartment Therapy are great websites for browsing images, finding home decor inspiration and colors that speak to you.

• Use paint samples, rath-er than chips.

The most realistic way to envision the color in your home is to see it in action. Many paint retailers offer small sample cans for just a few dollars. Use these to paint a few stripes of each color option in the room you’ll be painting, then watch as the color changes in different lighting condi-tions.

“Sunlight, shadows and furniture can all alter the appearance of paint in your space,” said Erika Woelfel, the vice president of color marketing at BEHR. “Before fully committing to a hue, make sure it’s one you’ll love morning, noon and night.”

• Use the right painting supplies

High-quality painting tools save you time over the course of your project and produce the most beau-tiful finish. For best results, use a high quality, lint-free roller cover. Select brushes

made of nylon and polyes-ter and for flawless edges, use a painter’s tape specifi-cally designed for your sur-face type.

• Spend time preparing for your project

Proper preparation is the key to achieving long-last-ing color. Begin by remov-ing all the wall fixtures you can such as pictures, doors and light switches. If you have small cracks or holes in your walls, remove any dust and apply a patch-ing material. Make sure to allow this to dry completely before sanding the finished area. Wash away oil, grease or wax stains by dampening the surface, applying mild detergent with a sponge and then rinse the wall clean. Once dried, you’ll be ready for smooth applica-tion and beautiful color.

With these five tips and a free afternoon, you can eas-ily refresh the inside of your home into a colorful oasis.

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needed to complete a painting project with a satisfactory conclusion.


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Tips to keep your garden growing through fall’s chill

(BPT) — As summer winds down and frost threatens, even avid gardeners may be tempted to pack up their trowels and call it a season. You may think it’s better to leave the victory garden gracefully, than risk the disappointment of watch-ing crops wither in chilly temperatures. But fear of frost and failure don’t have to stop you from enjoying a fruitful fall garden. With the right plant choices and a few tricks, producing a hefty harvest can be easy.

A few facts about frostFrost occurs when tem-

peratures drop enough to condense and freeze the moisture in the air. In fall, when air temperatures sink, it’s common to find frost layering the ground, leaves and crops. Frost may occur frequently in the fall before the ground really becomes frozen — known as a hard freeze.

While a hard freeze gener-ally heralds the end of the growing season and frost can harm warm weather crops like oranges, some veggies actually do very well and taste better when nipped by frost. By stocking your fall garden with frost-loving varieties, you can ensure your garden remains victorious and bountiful right up to the first hard freeze. Not sure when the hard freeze will occur in your region? Check out the USDA Freeze Map.

When you consider the many advantages of fall gardening, frost shouldn’t be feared. Cooler tempera-tures mean you’ll have a more comfortable experi-ence while working in the garden, and you’ll have fewer insect pests and weeds to deal with.

Frost-friendly choicesJust because the growing

season is over for summer crops like tomatoes, you don’t have to give up gar-dening before the cold win-ter weather. Instead, clear out the remnants of sum-

mer plantings and debris and get the ground ready for fall favorites like spin-ach, cabbage, collards and kale. These hearty, leafy vegetables — available from Bonnie Plants — actually like the chill weather and can stand up to some frost.

Certain root veggies, such as radishes and turnips, also do well in cooler tempera-tures. All are packed with nutrients, so you can plant them knowing you’ll be fill-ing your dinner table with fresh, nutritious, great-tast-ing veggies this fall. For a list of fall-weather favorites, tips and harvest advice visit www.bonnieplants.com.

Get a good startWhen planning your

fall garden, time is of the essence. Start with well-established, vigorous plants like those Bonnie Plants offers in some regions at garden retailers.

Starting out with more mature plants not only allows you to get your fall garden growing faster, it helps ensure your veg-etables are strong enough to endure unexpected or extreme temperature vari-ations. And remember to choose short-season variet-ies that will produce quick-er in fall’s shorter growing season.

When frost arrivesEven though your fall

vegetables might be able to handle the cold, you may want an extra layer of pro-tection for unseasonably cool nights. Fortunately, you can do a lot to protect plants from sudden dips in temps.

Growing veggies in the right spot can make a big difference. Choose a loca-tion for your garden that gets plenty of sun, espe-cially in the morning when you’ll want plants to quick-ly shake off overnight chill. Planting in a raised bed also helps insulate plants and their tender roots from ground freezes. Container gardens are also great for

fall; when a severe frost or hard freeze threatens, you can bring plants inside, overnight for protection.

Sometimes you may want to cover plants against extreme cold. One option is a cold frame. Typically constructed of wood and glass or plastic, the frame sits over plants like a por-table mini greenhouse. You can build your own — an online search will yield plenty of how-to plans — or purchase a prefabricated one. For less severe situa-tions, simply turning a pot or bucket upside down over tender young plants can be

enough to shield them from cold.

When fall arrives, you don’t have to fear frost, or give up your garden. Success starts with choosing

cold-hearty varieties that prosper and produce well in cool weather. Visit www.bonnieplants.com to learn more about fall vegetables.

For a vibrant fall garden, choose cold-weather plants such as radishes, turnips, broccoli and kohlrabi that can

tolerate a hard frost and still keep pro-ducing.


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since people are significantly expanding the size of their showers during renovations. Larger showers are ideal paces for relaxation and rejuvenation, and walk-in show-ers with oversize panes of glass, multiple water sources and oversize rain showers are becoming increasingly popular. Smart controls for controlling water patterns and flow volume enhance the experience.

• Conserving water in the shower is good for your wal-let and your soul. Water costs can vary widely depending on where you live in the country. No matter where you live, however, reducing the amount of water you use will decrease both your water bill and your utility bill (electric or gas, depending on which fuels your water heater). To calculate how much you could save, you first need to get a better idea of how much water you use. The USGS Water Science School offers a great online water use calculator. Once you know how much water you use, you can take steps to reduce consumption, including: Installing more efficient showerheads, reducing shower time to about 5 minutes and using technology such as thermostatic valves and digital controls to shower more efficiently.

Using less water is good for the environment, so you can feel positively about your water conservation efforts, all without losing any enjoyment of your shower experi-ence. To learn more about more efficient and enjoyable showering, visit www.grohe.com.

showerFrom Page 5

reading nook, in a bright, bold color for a mini-room effect. Or paint a piece of furniture or picture frame and elevate it to something special.

Get creative with cabi-

netry Take advantage of cabi-

netry with built-in stor-age features, from pullout racks that create added pantry space, to bathroom cabinets equipped with laundry hampers, hair-dryer hooks and bins for grooming items.

smAll sPAceFrom Page 9

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fall home improvement 2015

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