Professional Documents
Culture Documents
your
Bring on
Spring
Tips to get your exterior
ready for warmer weather
+
zz Expert Landscaping Tips
zz Create Functional Spaces
zz Hot Kitchen Splurges
current or future home — focus on functional and fun
22 | Beyond Landscaping
Make sure your exterior home maintenance checks out
CADILLAC
This multi-purpose family room designed and built by Marnie Oursler includes a bar and access to the kitchen and porch. Photo by Dana Hoff.
Forget formal spaces in your current or future home — focus on functional and fun
By Erik J. Martin
“People should
forgo the traditional
house plan and opt
for a more realistic
one — a house that
you will use and
one that’s
comfortable.”
Marnie Oursler
Host of DIY Network shows
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Friday, April 5, 2019 | www.cadillacnews.com Cadillac News - Your Home - Issue 1 7
continued from page 7
“You can go with all black cabinets and balance it
with lighter tones in the countertops, fixtures and
wall colors,” says Lynn. “This option gives a dramatic
and elegant look that provides contrast and depth.”
Another option is to add only a small dose of ebony,
“such as using merely a matte finish black in cabine-
try and plumbing hardware and light fixtures to cre-
ate a contrasting pop of the room’s tone,” Lynn adds.
Remember: Even a little black goes a long way.
“It’s a heavy, dense and powerful color, so you must
apply the appropriate balance, especially when com-
bining with other colors or materials,” recommends
Jacobsen.
A different twist on this formula is to employ slightly
lighter blacks, “such as deep charcoal colors that
offer a bit of a softer but still dramatic look,” says
Serra, who advises using black swatches next to
other chosen colors to see if they harmonize.
Concerned about “jet” lag or black quickly falling
out of fashion? Relax, say the pros; black, when used
appropriately, has solid staying power.
“Black isn’t going out of style, although how we use
it will certainly continue to change,” Pickens says.
Still, if you want to prevent color remorse, ask an
expert.
“It’s best to consult with a design professional who
can take a big-picture look at your space and offer
quality advice,” Serra says. “Every kitchen is differ-
ent in size, light and design.”
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10 Your HOme - Issue 1 - Cadillac News www.cadillacnews.com | Friday, April 5, 2019
If You Could Pick a
Kitchen Splurge …
Whether you’ve come into a few extra bucks or been saving for a while,
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advises choosing a sturdy solid wood, steel or fiberglass door
that matches the design esthetic of your home. Consider a
door with eye-catching carvings, moldings, stiles and rails, dec-
orative glass accents, and stylish hardware like oil-rubbed
bronze or satin nickel handles, knobs and hinges.
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Friday, April 5, 2019 | www.cadillacnews.com Cadillac News - Your Home - Issue 1 19
5 New Home Trends for 2019
By Erik J. Martin 3. Feminine and free
Boston-based HGTV design
Whether you are looking for a new home expert Taniya Nayak says
that is on-trend or thinking of ways to this movement is all about
embracing a pastel palette
turn a fixer-upper into your dream resi- with hues like blue, cream
dence, consider these 5 trends for 2019: and pale blue to fashion a
romantic/ glam look.
1. The healthy living look “An easy way to realize this
Many designers have observed a shift toward is to create a striped, pastel
more eco-friendly and green elements indoors. accent wall and alternate
Having an abundance of real plants can help different paint finishes —
achieve this. like eggshell and satin – in
“Bringing the outdoors into your home is not the same color to capture a
only an esthetic choice, but real plants also pro- soothing, soft, ethereal feel
vide the benefit of filtering harmful chemicals out and create more depth,” 5. The clean farmhouse look
of your home,” notes Lee Crowder, design gallery says Nayak, who adds that this trend best While farmhouse esthetics have been popular
and model home branding manager with Taylor applies to bedrooms and the living room. for a while, the difference in 2019 is the suggest-
Morrison and Darling Homes in Dallas. “We’re ed use of less tchotchkes. “This produces a
also seeing tons of floral patterns inspired by 4. Jewel tones cleaner look that incorporates only a few decora-
nature being prominent in 2019. And more home- Erika Woelfel, vice president of color and cre- tive trinkets or antiques alongside clean-lined
owners are choosing natural over manmade ative services with Behr Paint in Santa Ana, furniture,” says Karen Gray Plaisted, an interior
materials, like hardwood floors.” California, says jewel hues cast with an earthy designer with Design Solutions KGP in Warwick,
richness will be all the rage in 2019. Deep New York. “The antiques give the room character,
2. Curved sofas tones like Ecological (Behr # S380-6) and but the cleaner look employs muted colors that
Rounded-back sofas “add to the eclectic feel Amber Autumn (#S290-5) “engage the senses reflect the simpler lifestyle people prefer today.”
that’s becoming so popular,” says Cohen. and enhance the personal appeal of any room, Whatever trend you choose to follow, be careful
“They’re perfect for a more formal living room especially those for entertaining like a living or not to overdo it. “Whether you swap out accesso-
because they’re all about the interesting shape dining room,” says Woelfel. Cohen adds that ries or merely add a fresh coat of paint, small
and style.” Just be sure your curved sofa has a jewel tones work best “when multiple items or updates to a space can make you fall in love with
lot of empty space around it to show off its finishes in the room have a richness so that the it all over again,” Nayak says.
shape as much as possible. whole room feels balanced.”
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Friday, April 5, 2019 | www.cadillacnews.com Cadillac News - Your Home - Issue 1 21
State of the Bathroom Address
The latest trends in bathroom renovations
“Contemporary style continues to be
the leading choice among renovating
homeowners, despite its drop in favor
over the past three years.”
Nino Sitchinava
Principal economist for Houzz
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Friday, April 5, 2019 | www.cadillacnews.com Cadillac News - Your Home - Issue 1 23
Beyond Landscaping
When it comes time to get ready for spring, make
sure your exterior home maintenance checks out
By Dawn Klingensmith
When the thermometer starts ticking upward, the experts say it’s important
to give your house a good going-over from top to bottom to keep things run-
ning smoothly and prevent damage.
“For most of us, our home is our biggest investment,” says Kathleen A. Kuhn,
president of HouseMaster Home Inspections, a home-inspection service in
Bound Brook, New Jersey. “And when it comes to that investment, the bottom
line is that if you take care of your home, it will be worth more when the time
comes to sell it.”
Being proactive with springtime home maintenance “can save you large sums
of money,” says Kevin Sapp, district manager, Residential Mortgage Services,
Inc., Baltimore. “Small issues with homes do not typically fix themselves and
ultimately lead to larger, more costly repairs.”
When it comes to home maintenance, homeowners have to think outside the
box — literally, Kuhn says. “Regardless what season it is, home maintenance
always starts on the outside of the house and always starts with the roof.”
For starters, check your roof shingles and flashings. Ninety percent of roof
leaks are actually flashing leaks, Kuhn says.
“Flashings may come loose or crack and should be repaired or replaced
immediately to avoid leakage into the home and consequential damage to
the interior roofing elements.”
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24 Your HOme - Issue 1 - Cadillac News www.cadillacnews.com | Friday, April 5, 2019
Sapp also says roof shingles should be inspected to make sure that
there is no damage from snow and ice.
Next, it’s essential to check your gutters and downspouts, which
most likely are full of leaves and other debris, says Gino Chiapparelli,
a mortgage professional with Luxury Mortgage, Stamford,
Connecticut. “Overflowing gutters can deposit excessive amounts of
water against the foundation of your house, resulting in water leaking
into basements and crawlspaces.”
Other springtime projects to consider include painting or power-
washing siding, sealing decks, patios and porches, resealing your
driveway, and re-grading your foundation.
Spring also is a good time to check doors and windows. Proper
insulation ieing windows or replacing old windows with more energy-
efficient ones can help keep your home cool and comfortable and
lessen the workload on air conditioners or central air.
Likewise, adding extra insulation to your attic, walls, ceilings and
hot water heater can reduce your heating and cooling costs, Kuhn
says.
“Leaking air makes your heating and cooling systems work harder
and longer, using more energy,” she says. “So, check cable lines,
pipes, electrical outlets and switch plates for seeping air.”
Spring-cleaning involves more than ladders and hand tools, howev-
er. “Vacuum your upholstery and draperies to remove any dust, pollen any wall or window openings during renovation,” Kuhn says.
or dander, and thoroughly clean your ceiling fans,” Chiapparelli says. “Clean Those on a tighter budget but who are seeking simple ways to improve
your carpeting with an organic rug cleaner to remove any residual pet odors their home’s energy efficiency can easily replace their incandescent light
and dust mites. And dust thoroughly to further reduce airborne allergens.” bulbs with fluorescent ones and install fixtures that can accommodate the
Because you can open the doors and windows for extra ventilation, the latter, Sapp says.
warmer months are also ideal for repainting interior walls. Painting a room The weekend-warrior homeowner can tackle most of these projects, says
a lighter and brighter shade “can have a huge impact not only on that room Kuhn, with the exception of heating, ventilation and air conditioning, which
but the entire house,” Sapp says. should be checked and serviced by a professional.
The spring months also are ideal to undertake a major remodeling job
“because you will have less of a need to keep the home warm if there are © CTW Features
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Friday, April 5, 2019 | www.cadillacnews.com Cadillac News - Your Home - Issue 1 25
Landscaping Tips
from the Pros
Work out a plan to conserve two of your
garden’s most precious resources:
Your time and energy
By Robert Sharoff
For most people, an ideal garden would be full
of flowers and require no maintenance at all. But
short of using silk flowers, that type of garden
just doesn’t exist.
One can, however, minimize maintenance with
careful planning. fend for themselves in most situations.
“Low maintenance does not equal boring,” says 4. Eliminate or downsize your lawn. Favor of
Doug Jimerson, co-owner of Studio G, a creative more trees and shrubs and flowers over grass.
agency that specializes in garden, pets, and food “A lawn takes more maintenance than just about one of the most inefficient and wasteful ways of
editorial. “You don’t have to settle for a shop- anything else you can plant,” Jimerson says. watering your garden,” Jimerson says. Far better,
ping-mall landscape just because you are time- “You have to mow and fertilize it and keep it dis- he says, are various drip-irrigation systems:
starved.” ease-free. It also takes a lot of water.” porous hoses concealed under mulch that dis-
What follows are 10 tips to get you started. And 5. Leave your lawn long. If you can’t live with- tribute water where it’s needed. There are also
if all else fails? Well, try the ultimate low-mainte- out grass, raise the blade on your mower to 3 systems for container gardens that consist of a
nance approach: Hire a gardener. inches or so. A closely cropped lawn – say 1 or 2 main hose with smaller tubes every few inches
1. Use plants that are appropriate for your inches tall – increases plant stress, which in turn that go directly into different pots.
climate. Don’t try to do rare tropical blooms in increases maintenance. And because taller grass 9. Avoid overkill with herbicides and pesti-
Minnesota or Pacific Northwest rain forest more effectively shades the ground, it discourag- cides. Are a few dandelions such a bad thing?
perennials in Arizona. Choosing the right plants es weed growth. And if they are, why spray the whole lawn? Go dig
is half the battle. The more stress plants are 6. Avoid concrete. When planning patios and them up. The same is true with insects. “People
under from inappropriate soil and climate, the walkways, resist the urge to economize by using tend to panic when they see an insect or insect
more likely they are to succumb to insects and concrete instead of stone or brick. “Stone and damage,” Jimerson says. “The key is to know
disease. brick are easily replaced if they crack,” says your enemy. A single tomato worm can do a lot of
2. Have a less-formal garden. Instead of rigid Michelle McKay, owner of McKay Landscape damage to a tomato patch, but it’s only one
borders and beds with everything evenly spaced, Architects in Chicago. Concrete, on the other worm. Find it and squish it.”
try a more naturalistic approach with plants such hand, must be broken up and carted away. 10. Fertilize sparingly. A single application of
as ferns and wildflowers that are supposed to 7. Don’t forget to mulch. Mulching inhibits time-release fertilizer at the beginning of the
look a little messy and freeform. weed growth and helps soil retain moisture. A season is enough for most gardens. If you add
3. Use hardy plants that don’t require much layer of organic mulch should be between two enough compost and manure to the soil, you
care. Annuals, for example, need to be dug up and four inches deep. Avoid using sawdust as a may not have to fertilize at all.
every year. Vegetables are highly susceptible to mulch, as it eats up nitrogen as it decomposes.
pests. But ornamental grasses and herbs can 8. Water wisely. “A conventional sprinkler is © CTW Features
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Friday, April 5, 2019 | www.cadillacnews.com Cadillac News - Your Home - Issue 1 27
Getting a Jump on Spring
Is your home’s exterior ready for warmer weather?
By Erik J. Martin
From blizzards to Arctic cold blasts, Jack Frost is known for delivering some
harsh seasonal punishment. But it’s after he moves on and warmer temper-
atures begin setting in that the evidence of his destructiveness can be fully
observed, especially around your home’s exterior and yard which, depending
on what area of the country you live in, have likely endured brutal conditions
for months.
Putting your property back in proper shape will require careful planning,
and timing is of the essence here, as delaying any crucial cleanup and main-
tenance chores can result in damage that will require costly repairs.
“As with all household tasks, procrastination is enemy number one.
Ignoring your exterior maintenance in late winter or early spring can lead to
things like premature rotting of your siding, porch or deck, home foundation
problems, death of your favorite bushes, and even insect infestations,” says
Douglas Dedrick, owner of Natural Landscape Designs in Elizabeth City,
North Carolina. “As soon as the snow has cleared and the ground is some-
what thawed and workable, you should do at least some basic exterior main-
tenance.”
This is particularly true of your lawn and landscaping.
“This is the time to strengthen your lawn in order to control weeds before
they emerge and so that it can take on the summer heat,” notes Ben Hamza,
director of technical operations for Memphis, Tennessee-based TruGreen.
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