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St. Thaddeus Episcopal Church Home and Garden Tour - PAGe 2 Woodside Plantation Festival of Homes - PAGe 4
A special publication of Aiken

Tours:

LocaL Home & Garden

Standard March 25, 2012

Hidden, historic neighborhood features home and garden tour

or more than fifty years St. Thaddeus Episcopal Church has hosted a Home and Garden Tour to benefit local agencies and community projects. This years Tour will be held on Saturday, April 21 from 10am-5pm. There are eight homes and gardens on the tour all of which are in the historic Highland Park neighborhood which surrounds the Aiken Golf Club, steps from downtown Aiken. The Highland Park Hotel sat on the brow of a hill overlooking its own golf course in 1870 until it burned in 1898. The hotel welcomed many winter residents who returned to build homes in this and other neighborhoods. The golf course survived and became a municipal course 100 years ago, the last sixty under the guidance of the James McNair family who own and operate it today. Antiques abound in a trio of homes overlooking the fairway. Towns End, one of the oldest homes in Highland Park, dated 1929, will be open to visitors. It is filled with a vast collection of antiques, many of which have been beautifully restored by the owner. Visitors may view the impressive wood working shop, an added attraction for the gentlemen taking the tour. The homes on either side are also featured; The Manse and Cornerstone. The former was originally the manse for the Presbyterian Church and is now home to a busy young family. Family portraits and artfully displayed collections of antique china, biscuit barrels and tole trays and are seen in this home. Cornerstone is a new home nestled into the corner of the property of Towns End and built to complement the original house. The ancient trees were preserved where possible and those that were taken down were incorporated into the house as cabinets, paneling and floors. Another new home on the tour created a great deal of interest as it was being built due to its striking position on the edge of the golf course and its unique turret . Once you see the outstanding views from every window you will appreciate the architects ingenuity. The interior design is exclusively by Nandina, guaranteeing that visitors will rush to the store on Laurens Street to duplicate the ideas and color schemes in this

When:

Saturday, April 21 from 10am-5pm

Where:

Aikens historic Highland Park Neighborhood

stunning home. There are three more homes on the tour, all have been extensively renovated to fit the owners life styles while maintaining the Aiken Cottage description evident in this neighborhood. The Cottage in the Pines is filled with artwork by Aiken artists and has a charming garden with a gazebo and outdoor shower. Hills Rest has a sun filled room which opens on to an enclosed garden, pool and fountains. The picturesque guest house is a delightful recent addition. Happy Endings is a wood workers dream house where every cabinet and much of the furniture have been made by the owner. His workshop is in a separate hobby house and is also on the tour, as is his wifes knitting room upstairs. The garden is also a work of art and a delight to behold. There is an additional, not to be missed, garden. It was designed by Aiken Landscape Designer Elliott Johnson, who will be on hand to answer questions and point out the exquisite details of the property. The final stop will be St. Thaddeus Church and cemetery, the oldest in Aiken, dated 1842. You are invited to join the women of St. Thaddeus at the Strawberries and Cream Tea and visit the Heritage Market where you may choose from a selection of antique linen items and lovingly used silver. The tour involves very little driving and four of the homes may be reached from one parking spot. Water and lemonade will be provided but may not be taken into the homes. The Home and Garden Tour committee wishes to thank the gracious home owners who share their homes with our visitors enabling St. Thaddeus to support our community.

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For further information visit www.stthaddeushomeandgardentour.org. Tickets are $25 and available on the website, at the church office, Material Things, The Curiosity Shop and Plum Pudding.
02 | Spring Home & Garden | Aiken Standard March 25, 2012

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Spring Home & Garden | Aiken Standard March 25, 2012 |

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Woodside Plantation Festival of Homes

Event to benefit Child Advocacy Center of Aiken County
he much-anticipated Woodside Plantation Festival of Homes will be held April 27, 28 and 29. The event is a unique opportunity for the community to see ten superbly constructed and beautifully furnished homes in both Woodside Plantation and The Village at Woodside while supporting an excellent cause. All ticket proceeds from the event will benefit the Child Advocacy Center of Aiken County. Women of Woodside, a group of more than 700 volunteers, are providing the significant volunteer staff an event of this size requires. The tour will begin at The Village Center, 230 Village Green Boulevard in Aiken, home to several area businesses and professionals including Aiken Design Center, a state-ofthe-art facility with extensive displays of kitchens, baths, floorings, and wall coverings virtually all facets of the home design process. Aiken Design Center also features the areas top interior designers. Ticket holders can get a first hand look at the facility, the only one of its kind in the Aiken area. Located minutes from downtown Aiken, Woodside Plantation is one of the Southeasts preeminent golf and leisure communities. The community is made up of an exciting collection of thoughtfully planned neighborhoods featuring a wide array of lifestyle options. The homes highlighted in this years Festival of Homes are examples of amazing architecture, remarkable craftsmanship and exceptional interior design. Two of the featured homes are located in the Village at Woodside, a traditional neighborhood featuring homes, cottages and townhomes with Charlestonian architectures set along tree-lined streets, parks and walking trails,

When:

April 27, 28 and 29, 2012

Where:

Woodside Plantation 1419 Silver Bluff Road Aiken, SC

Contact:

Diana Peters (803) 643-4653 dpeters@woodsideplantation.com

Aikens most desirable professional offices including a health and wellness campus which is home to Aikens top medical professionals and, soon, a wellness center, dining, shopping, inn and a full array of cultural and family activities. Proceeds from the Festival of Homes will aid the Child Advocacy Center of Aiken County in its efforts to provide a comprehensive program for the investigation, prosecution and treatment of child abuse cases. Providing neglected and abused children with a safe and nurturing environment is the primary goal of the Child Advocacy Center. The Child Advocacy Center of Aiken County is an accredited member of the National Childrens Alliance and an active member of the South Carolina Network of Child Advocacy Centers. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Advance tickets are available at the Woodside Development Sales Office, Aiken Design Center and The Reserve Club. Learn more about this event at www.festivalofhomes.net.

04 | Spring Home & Garden | Aiken Standard March 25, 2012

Remodeling remains hot

ts a decision that makes both financial and emotional sense. Instead of going to all the expense of moving to a new house every couple of years, more families are deciding to stay where they are and upgrade their existing space rather than moving somewhere new. Thats why remodeling continues to be a popular option for many families. They can turn their existing house into a more useful place, adding value, style and functionality all at the same time. Here are three trends that remain popular in remodeling.

Families staying in houses, making them better

additions to a house. These separate suites allow both privacy and livability within the home, letting families share one roof but remaining separated enough to stay sane. Its common to add a separate area with its own bedroom, bathroom and often a small, compact kitchen space to create an apartment-like zone thats separated from the rest of the home. This lets families combine their lives while still maintaining some level of independence and privacy.

areas. A big patio space with landscaping that sets it apart as a separate outdoor room is ideal for big family or social gatherings.

Outdoor Havens

Families Adding Suites

After the housing crisis of 2008, more and more Americans have decided to stay put in their existing homes rather than moving.

Todays families are living differently than they did a decade ago. There are more families today choosing to live with more than one generation under one roof, whether its the adult children who have returned home after college or elderly parents moving in with their kids. Thats why adding a suite often called the mother-in-law suite remains one of the most common

The kitchen is one room in the house where families tend to spend the most time together, and many people are choosing to upgrade their kitchen to make it more functional, spacious and stylish. A fully customized kitchen is a great way to make your home match your lifestyle. Granite and stone-look Turning your yard into an extension of countertops are some of the hottest the home is one of the most popular ways kitchen upgrades, as they have been for to upgrade your home. years, and integrating appliances with the When done properly, it feels like cabinetry is gaining in popularity. youve just added square footage to your This idea has been popular in Europe home without having to knock out any for years, but its starting to catch on walls. more in America as homeowners use With upgraded patio areas, outdoor fire custom panels to conceal and beautify pits and barbecue grills, covered awnings their refrigerator and dishwasher, along and high-class seating, todays outdoor with adding new features such as wine living spaces are as luxurious as they are racks and hidden storage solutions. The relaxing. end result is a totally customized kitchen They can also make great entertainment that matches your personal sense of style.

Custom Kitchens

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Spring Home & Garden | Aiken Standard March 25, 2012 |

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Ideas for giving your kitchen a warm, modern look

itchens are the heart of the home, and todays most popular designs take that into account. Open-concept, family-friendly layouts with islands and lots of countertop space are becoming the status quo for todays newly designed kitchens. Modern styling continues to be a popular trend, although its developing a twist lately. Instead of the cold, industrial, metal style that many people associate with the modern look, the new modern is warmer and more inviting. It uses elegant woods and natural materials in a clean, ornament-free design to combine the best in modern design and old-world craftsmanship.

frames and straight brushed metal handles. Designers have to be careful not to make this style look too cold and urban, though. Theres a fine line between a fashionable kitchen and an over-the-top, industrial urban loft kitchen, and its important not to cross it unless thats the look youre aiming for.

ors, can be a quick and easy way to give your kitchen a whole new look.

Quality Wood Accessories

Mixed Materials

Streamlined Design

The streamlined look continues to be in for kitchens. Influenced heavily by the midcentury style, including straight lines and simple, Scandinavian-inspired wood fixtures, todays streamlined kitchens use glass and clean lines for a thoroughly modern appearance. Its especially notable in the style of cabinets that are popular this year. Glass door fronts whether frosted or clear continue to be popular, along with simple

The biggest trend in the new modern style is mixing different materials together typically metal with natural materials, like stone and wood. Stainless steel appliances and fixtures remain the top sellers, but theyre being paired with more old-world materials and colors. Natural stone tiles and backsplashes are especially popular, along with cork floors and rich wood cabinets. One new trend in cabinets is using more than one stain or color to create contrast. The old rule of always using matching cabinets has been thrown out the window in favor of more visual interest and unique combinations of colors and materials. For a low-cost makeover, consider refinishing your cabinet doors. Sanding and re-staining your cabinets, or perhaps just painting over them in Tuscan-inspired col-

far too often. Thick wooden bowls, hand-carved dishes and other long-lasting accessories are popular this year. As the economy recovers, people are wanting to invest in Finally, high-quality accessories espe- materials that withstand the test of time, cially wooden accessories are coming and well-built wooden structures are doing back into style. the trick. People want a sense of quality in their They fit the new modern design while home at a time when cheap plastic kitchen adding the warmth that makes your house tools are wearing out and being replaced feel like home.

06 | Spring Home & Garden | Aiken Standard March 25, 2012

Turn your ordinary bathroom into a spa-like oasis

athrooms used to be small, cramped rooms, but not anymore. Todays bathrooms are becoming integral parts of the living space of a home, with plenty of room and amenities for relaxation. One major trend in home improvement is making bathrooms into spa-like spaces, turning them into an oasis where you can unwind and relieve pressure. From the decor to the functionality of the space, here are three popular ideas for making your bathroom a more relaxing place to spend time.

Everyone knows that lighting can have a big impact on the mood of a room. From cool blues to warm oranges and reds, the temperature of the lighting in a room Traditional bathtubs are around 14 inches can add drama and create a theatrical feeldeep, which is perfect for bathing children ing. or for adults laying flat in the tub, but The same thing can happen in your theyre not ideal for sitting up with a book bathroom. Colored LED lighting is becomand unwinding. ing a popular addition to bathrooms for Imagine coming home from work after a Thats where soaker tubs come in. owners who want to use lighting to help stressful day. You step into the shower and Unlike the shallow traditional tubs, them relax. are instantly immersed in a cloud of hot, which are usually rectangular, soaker New systems are being sold that will peppermint-scented steam that melts your tubs are shorter, taller, oval-shaped tubs automatically change the color of lighting troubles away. designed to better immerse the body while in your shower or bathroom to create light This used to require a trip to the spa, but leaning back. They let you cover your therapy, using different shades and brightwith steam showers growing in popularity, entire body more like a swimming pool nesses to help you unwind. Some can be more homeowners are opting to recreate the than a normal shallow bathtub. installed in faucets, others in showerheads full spa experience in their own bathroom. Soaker tubs are usually installed on their or in the overhead bathroom lights, but A steam shower uses a device called a own, without a shower head, often in the the overall goal is the same: making your steam generator to boil water and gently center of a bathroom wall. And because of bathroom a place to get away from it all. emit it in a cloud of steam, all at safe temtheir oval shape and shorter overall dimenThe best systems combine light with peratures. They typically include a way for sions designed for sitting, rather than laywater in stunning ways. They change an you to add natural oils such as eucalyp- ing, they usually use less water to fill up. ordinary shower into a multicolored, othertus or mint to make it an aromatherapy Pricing starts around $1,000 for an inex- worldly place to spend time.

experience, too. A steam shower requires professional installation, including custom electrical and plumbing work, but the end result can be worth the expense. Its also more cost effective than building a traditional sauna in your home, so youre adding a relaxing, luxurious experience right in your existing shower.

pensive soaker tub and can range up to $5,000 or more for tubs with natural finishes and high-end features. Its a great way to make your bathing experience more relaxing.

Colored LED lighting

Soaker Tubs

Steam Showers

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Beautify your landscape with native plants

Its better for the environment, easier on the homeowner
his has been good for increasing the variety of plants available for your landscape, but its also created a big problem: many of those imported plants simply arent suited for where you live. Even plants that are hardy in your areas temperatures may not be ideal in your city because of soil conditions, rainfall, wind or other factors. That means they require more watering, more fertilizer, more care and more time to keep them thriving in an area where they dont belong naturally. Theres a solution, though. Many landscapers are turning to native plants rather than imported varieties, and heres why.

to be watered because nature takes care of them. When they do need extra water because of drought or other temporary weather conditions, it wont require nearly as much as plants that are imported from other areas.

For centuries, a major part of gardening has involved importing exotic and interesting plants from other parts of the world. Flowers, shrubs and ornamental grasses that are native in faraway lands are grown, potted and shipped to just about anywhere many miles from where nature intended them to grow.

Less Watering

An obvious advantage to using native plants is that theyre naturally suited to your areas rainfall levels. Hot, dry climates will only support native plants that survive those conditions. The same goes for cold, wet climates. Choosing plants that grow naturally in your area makes more sense. Picking plants that require more or less rainfall than what you receive is a sure recipe to create stress for your landscaping, which results in more disease, wilting and rotting. Ideally, native plants will never need

Another advantage of native plants is that they will always match your areas natural beauty. Native plants can be found all around where you live. The trees, shrubs and flowers that grow wild in and around your city create an easy way for your home to complement its surroundings. They also give your home a sense of place. Your lawn and landscape will perfectly match where you live, which is a pleasing feeling.

Match Nature

Native plants grow wild without any special care in your area. If youre the type of person who doesnt have much time to spend tending their landscaping, or if you simply dont enjoy gardening, then native plants are a perfect solution. If you pick the right ones and plant them properly to begin with, they can provide years of trouble-free care.

Less Upkeep

Protect your garden from hungry animals

omes full of garden beds with blooming flowers and foliage can seem warm and inviting. Planting flowers is one of the easiest ways to transform the appearance of a home with minimal effort and expense. Too often homeowners plant annuals and perennials only to find their hard work has been damaged by hungry animals, like deer, rabbits and underground pests. There are ways to keep animals away from plants -- many of which are humane and environmentally safe. Keeping furry marauders away from the garden is something individuals who live in rural or suburban areas have to consider when planting. Many communities are growing and encroaching on the natural habitats of wild animals. With some of their natural food sources diminishing, animals may decide to partake of the easy pickings that come from residential home gardens.

If you understand how these animals feed, you can take precautions to restrict access to planting beds. Rabbits tend to munch on vegetables and ornamental plants. Small in stature and not able to scale fences very easily, rabbits might be deterred by a low fence surrounding plants. Consider digging some chicken wire below the fence a few inches to discourage digging under the fence. The fence should be 18 inches high, and you should keep the openings no more than one inch because rabbits can squeeze through small openings. In terms of gophers, moles, voles, and other burrowing animals, the key is preventing underground access. Chicken wire or another abrasive material put under the garden soil can help keep underground animals from burrowing under and then up into the heart of the garden. Deer are another story altogether. They

are tall animals capable of rising up on hind legs to stretch out and reach branches of trees and bushes. Therefore, taller fences may be needed to protect the garden. But these can sometimes be unsightly, especially in a front yard. Therefore, look for natural barriers that can keep them out. They may be deterred by thorny bushes or plants. Daisies, papaver (poppies), narcissus, rudbeckia, achillea, agastache, aster, lupine, coreopsis, verbascum, centaurea, and echinacea are available in many varieties and are not attractive to deer or rabbits. Here are some additional strategies that you can try. Create narrow pathways between raised beds. Rabbits will feel like they are in prime locations for predators to get at them in this type of situation and may be less likely to venture in. Deer may not be able to navigate narrow paths. Use mulch. In addition to benefitting

the plants, keeping soil moist and fertilizing the areas, mulch also deters many animals. Interplant different species of plants. Some animals dont want to bother picking tasty plants out among other varieties they dont like. So mix plants with ones that animals find unpleasant. Use other natural deterrents. Animals may be kept away by scents of their predators. Urine from coyote, foxes, dogs, and cats may help. You can also try human hair, cat litter and soap flakes. Create an animal-friendly area elsewhere. Feed the deer and rabbits the foods they love somewhere away from your garden. They may fill up with favorites and stay away from your flowers and vegetables. Traps may work. As a last resort, use humane traps to collect animals and release them elsewhere.

08 | Spring Home & Garden | Aiken Standard March 25, 2012

Bring your garden to the front door

ardening and landscaping have historically been two very different disciplines. Gardening While a traditional vegetable garden is involves growing things for the dinner table, usually planted away from the house, edible and landscaping is strictly ornamental. You can combine the two, though, in a new home improvement trend called edible landscaping. With an edible landscape, your goal is to create a space that is just as welcoming and visually pleasing as a traditional landscape, only with the added benefit of vegetables, fruits and herbs that you can use to cook a meal.

Convenience

landscaping can be planted right outside put your garden to use. your door. That makes it easy to step Its also popular to use containers as part outside and pick some rosemary or pull a of an edible landscape. There are many piece of fruit from a tree, making it easier to varieties of dwarf citrus trees, for example, that are perfect for container gardening. You can bring them indoors in the winter and let them be visible as part of your landscaping in the spring and summer.

Beauty

Limited Space

A big reason edible landscaping has become popular is that it takes up much less space than a traditional garden. If you have a little space between the shrubs by your front door, you could plant some herbs during the growing season. It doesnt take up much room, and theres no rule that says gardeners have to separate their landscaping from their edibles. Just be careful what you harvest, because many landscaping plants are not edible.

Finally, edible landscaping can be just as beautiful as traditional, non-edible landscaping. You have plenty of choices for edible plants that are also suitable for the landscape including varieties of persimmons, pecans, citrus trees and peach trees that are as tasty as they are good looking. When you choose edible plants for your landscaping, youre freeing up more space in your vegetable garden for other plants. Youre also putting your gardening skills on full display, letting visitors get an up-close look at the bounty youre growing rather than hiding it in a faraway backyard garden.

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Spring Home & Garden | Aiken Standard March 25, 2012 |

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Give your cars home a makeover, too

n recent years, the home improvement craze has spurred many homeowners to give their living rooms, bedrooms and landscapes a makeover. But one important room in the house has largely been forgotten until recently: the garage. Thats changing, though. As more people want to take advantage of the utility of a garage not to mention making it more attractive garage makeovers are becoming a popular option for people who want to beautify their home. Heres a look at three ways to give your garage a new lease on life.

are using the space. Whether its a man cave-style hangout for the guys or an extra play space for the kids, garages often have a separate use besides a simple place to park the car. Designing storage for how you actually use the garage can be a smart move.

Floor Coverings

While bare concrete is functional for parking cars, its not very pretty and its actually not that durable, either. Even a

small fluid leak from your car can permanently discolor the concrete pad and be just about impossible to clean up because concrete is so porous. New floor coatings designed specifically for garages can solve this problem. They look far better, often with a shiny surface and colored flecks that can match your sense of style, and are also easy to wipe clean when there are spills or fluid leaks from your car. Special consideration needs to be paid

Built-In Storage

when picking the covering, though. You want to get a coating that is made specifically for garages, including being temperature and chemical resistant, so dont even think about rolling on a bucket of ordinary outdoor paint. Its not going to last. Home stores offer some products that can be installed by homeowners, but the preparation work and the quality of your application will make a big difference in how the finished product will look. If you want a finish that is guaranteed to be beautiful and long-lasting, call in the pros. Lots of companies specialize in doing garage transformations now.

Just like in your kitchen, custom, built-in cabinets and countertops are being installed in garages to help keep your life organized and give you a place to work on your interests and hobbies. Some cabinets are being designed specifically for garage applications now, and they not only come in the metal, utilitarian cabinets you may be imagining. Many new styles look as good as what you would find in an upscale kitchen. Having extra storage space makes sense in the garage because of how many people

Wall Hooks

For a simple and very cheap garage makeover, get some hooks at your local hardware store to keep your garage walls organized. A wide variety of solutions are being sold now specifically for garage storage. Whether you want to hang tools like shovels and rakes, lawn equipment, bicycles or hoses, youre sure to find a storage hook or device designed just for that use. Its an easy way to organize your garage on a weekend.

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10 | Spring Home & Garden | Aiken Standard March 25, 2012

Trade out your carpet

he most popular floor covering in American homes since the 1960s, by far, is carpeting. Carpeted floors feel great under bare feet and provide a cozy, elegant look that can be designed to match any room. Carpet does have its disadvantages, though. It can stain think of toddlers spilling red Kool-Aid on beige carpet shows dirt easily and can be hard to keep clean. It can also start to show wear prematurely in heavily trafficked walkways, and some people say it can attract dust and pet hair that make allergies flare up. Those are some of the reasons many homeowners are choosing to switch out their carpeting for hard surfaces. They can be easier to clean, look beautiful and still have the comfort and style of carpet when rugs are added.

Soft, squishy floor coverings arent for everyone T

Laminate Floors
An affordable, very durable option is laminate flooring. Its quickly grown as one of the most popular floor surfaces in todays home because its easy to install homeowners with basic carpentry skills can often do the job themselves and comes close to matching the beauty of real wood. Laminate floors are not the same as wood floors, though. They are typically thinner and manufactured to look like wood or other natural materials, but theyre actually just a printed pattern that looks natural. It doesnt have the same natural variability and stainability of true wood flooring. Look closely at the floors warranty before you buy it. Youll want to pick the best quality flooring you can afford so it will be many years before it starts to show scuffs, scratches and other signs of wear.

Hardwood Floors

One option that has long been popular is hardwood flooring. Made from real trees cut down into thin planks, hardwood flooring is available in all the variety that nature provides. To many people, hardwood floors are the most beautiful of all because they actually come from Mother Nature. Theyre typically more expensive than laminate floors, but they also look better, with a natural texture and graining that can be stained in thousands of different options. Many hardwoods are available prefinished with durable coatings, so they can have the same longevity and wear resistance of laminate floors, along with the ease of installation. And when they do start to show wear many years from now, they can typically be sanded down and re-finished to bring out their original beauty once again.

Tile Floors

Tile flooring has perhaps the widest range of choices on the market today. Its available from very cheap ceramic tiles to very expensive natural stones imported from around the world. The big advantage of tile flooring is that it can have natural beauty, much like hardwood floors, but is also very water resistant. Its often used in kitchens and bathrooms for that reason, although more and more homeowners are getting comfortable putting tile and stone floors in their living areas, too. Tile is also great for designers because its available in such a wide variety of colors and textures. Whether manmade like ceramics or cut straight from a quarry, like marble or sandstone, tile can provide the kind of durability and natural style that matches todays modern lifestyle.

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