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HOMEDIY

DÉCORfun projects to tackle at home3

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HOW TO HAVE YOUR DREAM HOME WITHOUT HAVING TO RELOCATE

Great Gardens

A look at our 2014 garden contest entries

J U L Y • A U G U S T 2 0 1 42

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Tell us what you think of [email protected]

EDITOR

Sara Patterson [email protected]

CONTRIBUTORS

Sarah Matheny GordonEmily KeplingerErinn Figg

PHOTOGRAPHY

Jason TerrellNathan Berry

Let’s FIX Our Environment!Recycle with city government 576.6851 ext. 1 or go online memphistn.gov.

FIX 495 Union Avenue, Memphis, TN 38103901.529.6513 www.memphisfixmagazine.com

FIX is a bi-monthly magazine delivering essential local information on home design, remodeling, repair and restoration. It is published by E.W. Scripps Company. Opinions expressed or facts supplied by its authors are not those of FIX. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.Copyright 2013.

Fix magazine is dedicated to providing local information about all things home and garden.

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FEATURES15 Urbanology by Ashley16 Exceptional Expansion22 Seamless Addition28 Modern Kitchen Makeover34 Rooted in Tradition44 Great Gardens

DEPARTMENTS12 Artist Spotlight:

Sue Layman Lightman33 Statement Pieces37 Pinteresting: Fun Summer Crafts38 Why We Love Our Home42 Green Fix: Whole House Fans43 Décor Fix: Hawaiian Luau49 Hospitality Fix: Gourmet Hot Dogs

and Blackberry Mojitos

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J U L Y • A U G U S T 2 0 1 41 0

From The Editor

Let me begin by thanking everyone who took the time to submit garden

photos into our annual Green Thumb Garden Contest! Wow, were they a

pleasure to process. Please flip through to the back of the magazine to

see a glimpse of the entries for yourself. This year, we’re putting our five finalists

on display at Graham’s Lighting and Outdoor Living in Midtown, beginning July

16. Please visit the store to cast your vote for our first ever “People’s Choice”

award! Everyone who entered the contest, and anyone who casts a vote at

Graham’s by the end of July, will receive an invitation to our first “garden party”

at Graham’s, where we’ll announce the winners. We’ll also have the winners in

the next issue of Fix magazine.

This issue, we took a look at some amazing modern home additions, from

both a builder and client perspective. Other features include a total kitchen

makeover, a peek into heirloom gardening and an artistically styled local home.

Our hospitality guru shared her favorite mojito recipe to enjoy on these warm,

Southern summer evenings and our party planners showed us how to throw a

perfect backyard luau. As always, please send any comments or questions to

the editor by emailing [email protected].

Sincerely,

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Advertiser Directory

This issue of FIX Home and Garden Magazine is brought to you by Ashley Furniture HomeStore. The magazine is free thanks to all of our

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J U L Y • A U G U S T 2 0 1 41 2

Sue Layman Lightman said that when she began painting

18 years ago, it came from a place of necessity.

“I was at a stage in my life where I knew I wasn’t

doing what I needed to do,” she recalled. “I prayed

constantly during this time, and I was inspired to go

buy some paints and start the process of learning.”

Allowing her artistic desires to take hold, Sue began by

applying oil paints directly onto a wall in her home. The results

were as primal as her approach, and her focus on bright colors

and geometrical patterns has become her signature.

In the 18 years since she began painting, Sue’s artistic career

has blossomed. Many of her works can be found around the

greater Memphis area, in doctors’ offices and restaurants, even

on the walls of the Madison Hotel. Six years ago, she opened her

own gallery in the South Main Historic Arts District, just down

the road from the National Civil Rights Museum. Shortly after her

SUE LAYMANArtist Spotlight story by Sara P. Shirley • photos by Nathan Berry

LIGHTMAN

J U L Y • A U G U S T 2 0 1 4 1 3

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opening, Justin Timberlake and Jessica

Biel stopped by to pick up a painting. The

three-story gallery is smartly furnished,

showing how well her bold, abstract

pieces work in a home setting. Sue often

participates in the Downtown “trolley

tour” nights, and her gallery is open

this summer on Thursdays, Fridays and

Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. or by

appointment.

If you’re visiting the gallery, don’t

leave without climbing to the third floor

to spot the “wall” that Sue started her

journey with. She cut it right out of the

house and had it framed. Of all of the

pieces hanging in the gallery, it’s the only

one not for sale.

For more information on the artist,

or to view more of her work online, visit

www.suelaymandesigns.com.

J U L Y • A U G U S T 2 0 1 41 4

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Tony Salvaggio is a homebuilder

by trade, a history enthusiast by

nature. So naturally, when he began

the process of remodeling his home, he

incorporated his passions for both in the

project.

Tony’s reasons for adding on to his

75-year-old home rather than building

from scratch were much the same as

those of many of his clients with similar

requests. He loves his Germantown

neighborhood and school system, and

he respects the history of his house and

land. During the Civil War, Union soldiers

camped on his property, he said, and

he and his children enjoy hunting for

artifacts in the yard. When the family of

six began to outgrow their existing space,

rather than build anew, Tony decided

to build upon, all while living inside the

original space.

Once completed, Tony’s additions will

more than triple the size of his home,

adding 7,000 square-feet to his current

3,800 square-foot residence.

“We’re using the same materials from

the original house on the addition –it took

three years to find the right bricks—so

that when everything is finished, it won’t

look like an addition at all,” he said. “And

Story by Sara P. ShirleyPhotos by Jason TerrellEXCEPTIONALExpansion

The children’s relax room in the former attic of the Salvaggio’s Germantown home was built around the existing architecture of the home, including the raised space behind the seating which comes from the raised front porch downstairs.

J U L Y • A U G U S T 2 0 1 4 1 7

this goes to show that you can still live in

your house while remodeling.”

Tony was born into the building

business. His grandfather was a

demolition contractor and in 1972 his

father founded Memphis Door and

Hardware, which Tony now owns and

operates with his wife, Tami. Tony and

his father, Charles Salvaggio, also make

up the Salvaggio group, known locally

for its portfolio of both commercial and

residential projects throughout the Mid-

South.

Tony’s extensive addition will boost

his space from 3 bedrooms and 2 ½

bathrooms to 7 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms

and an attached guesthouse.

The plans for the expansion,

tentatively set for completion around

Renovations involve a number of reclaimed pieces of hardware including these door handles from a Midtown church. The Salvaggios are renovating their 1940s-era home in the heart of Germantown.

J U L Y • A U G U S T 2 0 1 41 8

EXCEPTIONALExpansion

Home Improvement

What’s the Pay Off?When embarking on an improvement project, homeowners all face the same question: How much will this ‘improve’ the value of my home?

Often, a new project will cost more than the value it might add. This doesn’t mean you have to throw away your dreams for a major room overhaul, especially if you’re planning to spend several more years in your current residence, but it’s worth considering.

Remodeling magazine takes a look at the return on investment for 35 improvement projects in an annual study. For the second year in a row, the data showed that the value of all remodeling projects has increased, signaling an end in the slide of the cost-value ratio that began plummeting in 2006. To view the complete results of the survey, visit www.remodeling.hw.net/cost-vs-value/2014.

Here are home renovations that the study found to be the best and worst returns on investment.Renovations that bring the greatest percentage return on investment:Entry door replacement: 96.6 percentDeck addition (wood): 87.4 percentAttic bedroom: 84.3 percentGarage door replacement: 83.7 percentMinor kitchen remodel: 82.7 percent

Renovations that yield the smallest return:Home office remodel: 48.9 percentSunroom addition: 51.7 percentBathroom addition: 60.1 percentBackup power generation: 67.5 percentMaster suite addition: 67.5 percent

What was the attic of the Salvaggio home has become a bedroom and relax space for the couple’s children.

J U L Y • A U G U S T 2 0 1 4 1 9

EXCEPTIONALExpansion

The Salvaggio home sits on a historic piece of land that figured prominently in the Union advance on Confederate forces during the Civil War. During renovations, the family has discovered a number of pieces of period pottery, glass and even a mini-ball bullet that dates to the Civil War.

J U L Y • A U G U S T 2 0 1 42 0

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EXCEPTIONALExpansionChristmas, includes many extraordinary

features, such as a brick tunnel

connecting the old and new areas of

the property. Reclaimed light fixtures,

dating back more than a century, will light

the way through the tunnel, adding to

the old-world feel of the overall design.

The English styling of the home carries

through the exterior into the courtyard

garden in the back, which is walled in by a

moat-like koi pond. A mini-amphitheater

surrounding a stone fire pit evokes

thoughts of the Roman Colosseum,

and the cavernous architecture of a

900-square foot underground wine

cellar transports guests to another place

and time. Local Memphis history is also

mixed in with the design. For example,

the staircase leading to the transformed

attic loft is composed of reclaimed wood

collected from a Memphis funeral home

constructed in the early 1900s. Lighting

and hardware from several demolished

historic buildings have found new life in

the Salvaggio home.

“It’s been fun, incorporating so much

history in the addition,” Tony said.

“Maybe we’ll end up on the historic

register after we finish.”

The home of Tony and Tami Salvaggio of Germantown was originally built in the 1940s and included the area on the right side of the photo. The semi-circular courtyard and the buildings beyond it have been added during the couple’s renovation.

J U L Y • A U G U S T 2 0 1 4 2 1

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J U L Y • A U G U S T 2 0 1 42 2

Walking into Chris and Marta

Patrick’s East Memphis home,

you’d never know that the

entrance wasn’t part of the original

design of the home.

Since moving in 11 years ago, the

Patricks have transformed their 1950’s

era home, adding to the house in a major

way to create the space they always

wanted without having to leave the

neighborhood they love.

“We considered moving (before

deciding to remodel), but we didn’t want

to leave the neighborhood,” said Marta.

“I grew up here, and I love—not just

our neighborhood, but our street—our

neighbors really are there for each other.”

The Patricks hired Keith Allen, of

Keith Allen homes, to make their plans

a reality. Allen’s job, he said, was to

complete the transformation without

anyone ever having known the house had

undergone such an extensive remodeling

in the first place.

“You don’t want the neighbors to drive

by and say, ‘Oh, that family just added on

to their house,” he said. “You want it to

look as if it was all part of the original

design.”

The key to a seamless addition, said

Allen, is proper planning.

“Some of best money you can spend—

aside from hiring a good contractor—is

the money you spend in the planning

process,” he said. “It’s a lot cheaper to

figure things out on paper, on the front

end, then in the middle of the project.

Some people have a hard time visualizing

what the space will look like, but a good

contractor, or architect, will help that

homeowner understand exactly what

they’re going to end up with.”

For the Patricks, extensive planning

helped them decide to tackle their

home renovation in two phases. The 3

bedroom, 2 bathroom house would grow

to 4 bedrooms, with 3 ½ bathrooms.

In the first phase, the kitchen was

Story by Sara P. ShirleyPhotos by Jason Terrell

ADDITIONSeamless

J U L Y • A U G U S T 2 0 1 4 2 3

The Patrick family home renovation netted a larger, open and more functional kitchen that sits neatly next to the casual dining space. Lining the walls and island are a plethora of nicely concealed storage areas to help keep the family organized.

This sitting room is positioned immediately adjacent to the kitchen and casual dining space in the Patrick family home.

J U L Y • A U G U S T 2 0 1 42 4

ADDITIONSeamless

Just off the entry way, the front room of the Patrick family home was transformed into a formal dining and seating area decorated with furnishings and draperies in deep, rich earth tones and lit with plenty of natural light from a series of windows.

J U L Y • A U G U S T 2 0 1 4 2 5

to any successful home remodeling

project. If you’re debating whether

to embark on a new project or look

for a new home, Keith Allen, of

Keith Allen Homes, recommends

considering these three factors:

Are you in the geographic location that you want to be in long term? If so, investing in your property makes more sense than if you are somewhere you only envision as a temporary landing.

How do feel about the original architecture of the home? The most fluid remodeling projects often rely on/build upon existing architectural framework and design to complete new goals.

Do you have a vision of what you want to accomplish? The clearer you are about your wants and needs, the more likely you are to see them come to fruition.

1

2

3

Planning is keyADDITION

Seamless

J U L Y • A U G U S T 2 0 1 42 6

ADDITIONSeamless

completely gutted, the house was kicked

out in the back to create more space,

and a storage room adjacent to the

old garage (which had been previously

closed in) was turned into a laundry room.

The kitchen was created anew, with an

open, bright design looking out over the

living room and new modern appliances.

The old garage, located off the kitchen,

was put to use as a den and craft area.

In the second phase, the front entry

was built out. Limestone around the

outdoor entryway was echoed with a

keystone in the interior arched entry,

adding to the flow of the home. A

staircase was built behind the entryway,

leading up to the attic and also serving

as a point of visual interest to separate

the living quarters in the home from

entertainment areas. Allen then created

a new master suite, kicking out a closet

to create a large master bathroom and

closing in what was once a sitting area

outside of the bedroom to create a large

master closet.

“Keith was a great guide through the

entire project,” said Marta. “He matched

everything up and actually improved the

flow—we’re really happy with the results.”

The master bedroom in the Patrick family home is both warm and cozy thanks to the arrangement of furniture and the warm colors used throughout the room. The large bed is all the more dramatic thanks to a custom-made headboard.

J U L Y • A U G U S T 2 0 1 4 2 7For more information on mobile banking,please visit www.first-state.net/personal/mobile-banking.

Let Us Know about Your Travel PlansWe strive to look out for fraud and will take notice of unusualspending patterns. There are also some states that we haveblocked, due to higher than normal fraudulent activity. Yourdebit card will only work when using your PIN in the blockedstates, unless you have us remove the state block. To helpavoid problems, let us know about your travel plans.

Take Only the Cards You NeedIt is a good idea to decide which cards are important totravel with and which credit or debit cards should stayhome. Those cards staying home should be locked upsecurely while you are traveling.

Know the Cash and Purchase Limitsof Your CardRegardless of your account balance, your debit card hasdaily ATM/Cash withdrawal limits and daily purchase limits.Call your local First State office to find out your specific cardlimits.

Log our Customer Service Numbersinto your Cell PhoneIf your debit card is lost or stolen, while you are traveling,you will need our customer service numbers. Pleaseconsider logging them into your cell phone. If you needany assistance at all, just call our Customer Care Center at1-877-910-0173. Also, note the number that is supportedby our debit card provider, 1-800-528-2273, in case youneed to call after hours. If your card is lost or stolen, give usa call and you’ll get immediate assistance.

Traveling has its own set of exciting opportunities and challenges.We don’t want your First State debit card to cause you anythingbut an excellent buying experience. We hope your summer travels,whether yours is a vacation or a staycation, to be above all ... safe!

Preparedness is key to a great vacation. As you begin your summer travels, plan for yourtrip with safety in mind. Here are a few safety tips regarding your First State debit card:

Tips for a Safe Trip

J U L Y • A U G U S T 2 0 1 42 8

With so much emphasis on “retro,”

everything old does seem to be

new again - especially if you

step into the recently remodeled kitchen

of Michelle and Brandon Triplett of East

Memphis. In 2009, the couple bought

their home from the original owners who

had built the house in 1957. The Tripletts

were given the original plans for the

home, along with the original appliance

manuals.

Michelle, an interior designer who

works at Vignettes, located in Chickasaw

Oaks Shopping Center, and her husband

Brandon, a physician at St. Jude Children’s

Research Hospital, are originally from St.

Louis, Mo.. His job brought their family to

Memphis. They knew from the moment

they bought their 1 1/2 story traditional

brick home that the kitchen was going

to have to undergo “major” renovation

to accommodate their modern growing

family of three boys (Jonah, 13; Isaiah,

12; and Griffin, 8). However, the first

thing they did was to remove several

rooms of wallpaper and repaint the

interior. The home’s overall color scheme

now incorporates various shades of gray,

as well as pops of brighter colors such as

orange and turquoise.

“I specialize in residential design

and was excited is to remodel out

kitchen,” Michelle said. “The reason we’re

doing this is to give our kitchen more

functionality, but it needs to blend with

the aesthetic of the rest of the home. We

Story by Emily Adams KeplingerPhotos by Nathan Berry

MODERN KITCHENMakeover

After gutting the entire kitchen, Michelle Triplett decided to install birch-stained, Shaker-style cabinetry and Silestone countertops. The kitchen is lit with an abundance of recessed lighting.

J U L Y • A U G U S T 2 0 1 4 2 9

Michelle Triplett is an interior designer at Vignettes in the Chicasaw Oaks Shopping center. She undertook the task of completely renovating the 1950s-era kitchen in her East Memphis home.

wanted to retain its integrity.”

The kitchen was gutted. The layout

of the kitchen was reconfigured, adding

a stainless steel chimney hood over the

gas cooktop stove and extending counter

space. The remodeling also added an

eat-in counter, as well as floor-to-ceiling

storage.

Plain wooden slab cabinets were

replaced with birch-stained, Shaker-style

cabinets from Lifestyles Kitchen and

Bath in Memphis. Silestone counters

in Blanco Canvas were fabricated and

installed by Stacks Stone in Rossville,

Tenn. Contractor Brandon Seifert, owner

of Adventurous Construction, removed

the soffits, installed all the tile, enclosed

the mud/laundry room, ran a gas line and

updated the plumbing. The dark linoleum

flooring was replaced with 12 x 24 inch

light gray porcelain tiles. Track lighting

was swapped for recessed lighting and

a cool modern pendant-style fixture that

J U L Y • A U G U S T 2 0 1 43 0


before

before

J U L Y • A U G U S T 2 0 1 4 3 1


The layout of the kitchen was reconfigured during the remodel, adding an eat-in counter and ample storage.

A stylish mosaic backsplash designed in a linear, mid-century pattern helped give new life and a bold sense of style to the Triplett’s kitchen.

J U L Y • A U G U S T 2 0 1 43 2


visually expands the space. One of the

most noticeable changes is that the plain

painted walls were transformed with a

glass and marble mosaic backsplash

designed in a linear, mid-century pattern

from Venice Tile & Marble Showroom.

“The backsplash adds interest, texture

and a modern day ‘pop’ - very subtle in

color but adding a lot of visual interest,”

explained Michelle. “The linear design

draws your eye around the room. As a

designer, I love the contrast between warm

and cool tones. The warm tone of the

wooden floors that run throughout out the

house is carried into the kitchen with the

warm tone of the stained wood cabinets.

Cool tones surface in the backsplash.”

All of the appliances (except the

refrigerator and dishwasher which had

already been replaced) were replaced with

stainless steel KitchenAid appliances from

Ferguson. The original sink was replaced

with a deep, divided stainless steel sink

to blend with the modern atheistic of the

kitchen.

“Another bonus of our remodeling

efforts was that we were able to move the

washer and dryer out of the kitchen and

enclose them in a newly-constructed mud

room and laundry room,” Michelle said.

“And, we were able to move our second

refrigerator out to our garage, repurposing

rather than discarding, so that we can use

that unit to store our bulk items.”

Being mindful of repurposing items,

Brandon said the couple “reinstalled our

old cabinets and appliances in a friend’s

‘man’s lodge’ in the country where the

kitchen had NO cabinets. Anything else

that we couldn’t use, we passed along to

others.”

J U L Y • A U G U S T 2 0 1 4 3 3

PIECESStatementFrom beautifully preserved butterflies to backyard bird feeders, here are a few of our favorite local summer finds.

Ivory Scroll Lamp$145Pomp & Posie(901) 410-8998

Medium Birdhouse$125Pomp & Posie(901) 410-8998

Crow with Bucket Birdfeeder

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Pheromone Insect Artwork by Christopher Marley

Starting at $300RS Antiques & Art(901) 417-8315

Bon Appetit Y’all Hand Towels

$15RS Antiques & Art(901) 417-8315

Tang Dynasty Horse in Antique Green

$96RS Antiques & Art(901) 417-8315

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J U L Y • A U G U S T 2 0 1 43 4

Heirloom plants have become

all the rage. People flock to

Farmers Markets to buy heirloom

tomatoes and catalogs are plentiful with

offerings of heirloom plants. But making

that type of choice became all the more

meaningful for Becky and Scott Bowman

when they opted for pass-along plants

from Becky’s parents’ home in Sardis,

Miss.

Becky’s father, the late Bob

Carter, spent his professional life in

a courtroom where he was a circuit

clerk, and most of his personal life in

his backyard where he exercised his

passion for gardening.

“My daddy was a Southern

gentleman who loved to entertain

and enjoyed hosting parties in our

backyard. He appreciated the beauty

of a pretty yard and a colorful garden.

He particularly enjoyed growing many

different types of flowers from all over

the South.”

So when the Bowmans began

planning the backyard renovation for

their home in East Memphis, it was

never a question that some of the

plantings would come from the family

home in Sardis.

The Bowmans bought their home

on Goodlett in 1999 and at that time,

the backyard was filled with bamboo

and very little grass. Since then, their

yard renovation has taken place in

stages; first with the addition of a

wooden deck off the kitchen, followed

by the laying of a brick patio. Even

there, the family ties continued with

the center section of the patio made of

bricks from the old Sardis courthouse

where Mr. Carter worked for over 30

years.

Story by Emily Adams KeplingerPhotos by Nathan Berry

TraditionRooted

IN

J U L Y • A U G U S T 2 0 1 4 3 5

Some of the boxwoods in the Bowman garden came from cuttings from a hotel in Biloxi, Miss., where Becky Bowman’s family vacationed during the summers of Becky’s childhood.

Heirloom plants are becoming increasingly popular in the modern gardening scene. These old-time varieties are passed down through multiple generations of families.

J U L Y • A U G U S T 2 0 1 43 6

TraditionRooted

IN

“Some of those bricks date back to

1849,” explained Scott. “We used them

to create a pad for our outdoor dining

area, as well as to run a brick edging

around the newly-created flower beds.”

An 8-foot high fence now frames

the southern border of the yard with

the transplanted shrubs fanning out

in a semi-circle to form the remaining

borders. In a series of trips to the home

in Sardis, landscapers from Sun Group

Services of Germantown removed

and successfully transplanted 9-foot

azaleas, small to moderate-sized

hydrangeas and massive plantings

of forsythia. Brandon Jones of Sun

Group assisted with the overall design,

adding transplanted English Boxwoods

to emphasize the garden’s structure.

“Some of the boxwoods came

from cuttings from the Broadwater

Beach Hotel in Biloxi, Miss. where our

family vacationed during my childhood

summers,” recalled Becky. “My daddy

loved to take clippings of plants he

admired and try to root them at home.”

More planting will come from

Sardis to Memphis this summer. The

Bowmans are waiting for day lilies

to bloom so they can determine their

colors. And daffodils are also on the

transplant list.

“Our once-neglected backyard is

now a place of respite that our whole

family enjoys,” said Scott. “I have found

that I really enjoy yard work and spend

much of my free time continuing the

restoration of our backyard.”

The heirloom plants have added

more than flora and fauna. They have

perpetuated family roots for the next

generation.

“We are continuing our family’s

tradition of backyard entertaining and

it is a fitting tribute to my father to

incorporate plants that he cultivated so

carefully,” said Becky.

Bricks in the center of the patio have family ties, as does much of the Bowman garden. Some of the bricks, which were taken from the Sardis courthouse where Becky Bowman’s father worked, date back to 1849.

J U L Y • A U G U S T 2 0 1 4 3 7

SUMMER CRAFTS

Pinteresting

With school out for the summer, moms and dads across the Mid-South have extra pairs of hands to keep busy. We turned to Pinterest for inspiration on projects that would be fun, easy, affordable and make for great decorative pieces to warm one’s home. You can view our finds on the “crafts we’d like to try” board at pinterest.com/fixmagazine. What projects or crafts are you working on this summer? Let us know by sending an email to [email protected]. Your project could be featured in an upcoming issue of Fix!

By Sara P. ShirleyPhotos by Jason Terrell

Happy Pinning!

Fun

Yarn Ball ArtWarning: This one gets messy. To make yarn

balls, which you can hang or place in a basket

to liven up a centerpiece, you only need a

few ingredients and a bit of patience. Pick

a thick yarn in a color of your choice; grab

a pack of balloons and a bottle of regular

glue. Make a glue paste by mixing one bottle

of glue with about half a cup of water. The

mixture shouldn’t be too watery, or the yarn

won’t become strong enough to hold shape

on its own. Blow up your balloon into a circle.

Dip your yarn in the glue mixture and wrap it

around the balloon. Let it dry overnight, and

then pop the balloon! The balloon will come

right out of the yarn ball, which will hold its

shape. Tip: Don’t pop the balloon if any of the

yarn is wet—this will cause the yarn to deflate

with the balloon.

Yarn Bottle VasesContinuing with the yarn theme, this is a very

easy way to re-use old materials to create

a set of cute, decorative vases that can be

personalized to fit your taste. All you need

is yarn, a few bottles and glue. It’s easiest

to do this by starting at the top and working

your way down. Place glue on the bottle

and then wrap yarn around the bottle. Use

different colors or widths of yarn to make

interesting striped patterns, if you’re e feeling

adventurous.

Flowerpot BirdbathBegin with varying sizes of terra cotta

flowerpots and glue them into an

arrangement resembling a birdbath. I found

everything I needed for this project at a

crafts store—the flowerpots, the non-toxic

“patio paint” for terra cotta, and a non-toxic

outdoor sealer (I used a Mod Podge brand).

Paint the birdbath however you’d like. I

attempted a Chevron pattern, and overall

it turned out, despite a few rough patches.

Seal the piece

before placing

it outside and

then enjoy!

J U L Y • A U G U S T 2 0 1 43 8

When Lori Reeves-Whited and

her husband Bill purchased

their Cordova home in 2009,

Lori had no shortage of bright ideas for

decorating it.

“The light had a lot to do with how

I dressed each room, actually,” she

said. “Because of the way the house is

situated, the sunlight just kind of dances

from corner to corner. It makes the room

look different at different times of the

day, and I can reposition the curtains or

blinds to enhance that effect.”

Although Reeves-Whited describes

her first encounter with the three-

bedroom, two-bathroom house as “love

at first sight,” she says it was the home’s

potential that really drew her in.

“I could see it could go somewhere,”

she said. “I knew I could take it

somewhere nice.”

So she and her husband got to work

upgrading appliances, changing light

fixtures, replacing brassy hinges and

doorknobs with more modern, brushed-

silver versions — the works.

“Everything was contractor-grade,

just the bare minimum, so we pretty much

changed everything,” Reeves-Whited

said.

One of her favorite transformations

occurred in an unexpected space.

“The laundry room originally was a

shabby tan color. I stacked my washer

and dryer and I painted the walls a bright

cockatiel green,” she said. “I also put

Story by Erinn Figg • Photos by Nathan Berry • Exterior photo courtesy of Lori Reeves-Whited

why we love our home

DÉCORDaring

J U L Y • A U G U S T 2 0 1 4 3 9

some dragonflies going up a wall. Now it

doesn’t look like a laundry room at all — it

looks like a playroom.”

An artist in her spare time, Reeves-

Whited uses the home’s third bedroom

as a combination office-slash-art studio

and has incorporated creative touches

and vibrant accents throughout her

home. Her chandeliers and light-switch

plates pop with color. Every piece of art

tells a story. In her master bathroom, an

old, once-rotting fence enjoys an artistic

reincarnation as a mirror frame.

“When we bought the house, the

master bathroom had a standard 9-by-6-

foot mirror. I liked the dimensions, but I

had to do something about the design,”

Reeves-Whited said. “When Bill replaced

some of the fence posts in the yard, I

kept them and came up with the idea to

cut them into a pattern that looks like a

fence around the mirror.”

Another favorite room is the dining

room, which includes a mix of antique

and contemporary décor and serves

as a showcase for mementos from the

couple’s travels.

“It has an island feel, but I would call

it ‘shipwrecked island,’ not ‘party island.’

I have a lot of antique maps that I’ve

framed, along with art and indigenous

masks from Haiti and other places we’ve

been,” she said. “I think it’s something that

takes people’s breaths away when they

see it. They just get lost in the maps on

the wall and want to know the stories

behind the masks.”

Reeves-Whited said she and her

husband have been entertaining much

more frequently during the past year,

thanks to the addition of a retractable

awning over the home’s back deck —

another one of her favorite spaces.

“Now we can open up our back

French doors completely and put out

Lori Reeves-Whited turned an extra bedroom into a home office/art studio.

J U L Y • A U G U S T 2 0 1 44 0

DÉCORDaring

Lori Reeves-Whited mixed antique and contemporary pieces in the dining room, which also showcases the couple’s travels.

A cockatiel green on the laundry-room walls grabs attention and adds vibrancy to this eclectically-styled home.

Lori Reeves-Whited reused old fence posts to add style to a once-plain mirror.

J U L Y • A U G U S T 2 0 1 4 4 1

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with each kitchencountertop order

DÉCORDaringthe awning. On the deck we have a grill

and chairs and tables, and it’s a party. It’s

just a party all over the house because

people can just go in and out as they

please,” she said. “It’s like an extension

of our house. It gave us 150 more

square feet to play in.”

All of the renovations and upgrades

aside, Reeves-Whited says one of

her home’s best features is the west

Cordova neighborhood in which it’s

situated. Everyone is friendly, and

neighboring homeowners often go the

extra mile to help each other, she said.

“Our cove is quiet, but we can still

hear the laughter of children. It’s so nice

when you hear the children laughing out

front — it’s like you know there’s going to

be a great future there.”

The plates on the light switches pop with color, adding artistic touches to each room.

An eco-friendly feature of the home is the rainwater collection station out back, which is used to water the grass and herb garden.

J U L Y • A U G U S T 2 0 1 44 2

Night or day, this fun soiree on the island of Hawaii is sure to thrill

everyone on your guest list.

A LOOK AT THE ECONOMICSA 4-ton 13 SEER air conditioning

unit in the mid-south will run about 1,000

hours during the cooling season. This

equates to about $2,500 per year or

$350 per month for the seven months

we need cooling. Now, if we look at a

whole house fan that may draw 600

watts of power when being used, the

utility cost would run around $8 per

month. By straight comparison you would

have a pretty good monthly savings using

the whole fan.

Of course this is not really an apples-

to-apples comparison because there are

other factors that may prevent you from

simply turning off your air conditioner and

running the whole house fan year round.

As with most energy efficient products

and methods, using common sense with

whole fans can save you money. As a rule

of thumb, if the outside temperatures go

above 85 degrees, it is probably best to

turn off the fan.

A FEW THINGS TO AVOID- Don’t go cheap with your whole

house fan. Avoid fans that don’t come

with insulated baffle covers and seals.

One of the worse enemies of energy

smart homes is a leaky thermal envelope.

If not done correctly, a whole house fan

is nothing more than a large hole in your

otherwise tight home.

- Properly size the fan for the house.

Too much or too little air movement may

result in not using the whole house fan as

often as you should. This simply defeats

your whole reason for installing your fan.

- Make sure your attic is properly

vented. All the air you are pulling

through your home and into the attic

has to ultimately leave your attic. To little

attic ventilation can result in poor fan

performance or even force attic air back

into your home.

ADDED BENEFITSThere are more benefits to having a

whole house fan than just saving money

on cooling. One of those is in indoor air

quality. Generally speaking, one of the

better ways to improve indoor air is to

replace the indoor air with outside air.

Of course, a whole house fan is one of

the best ways to quickly replace indoor

air with fresh outside air improving your

home’s indoor air quality.

GREEN FIXBy John Ruch

A whole house fan can be a great way to reduce the energy cost associated with cooling your home. Depending on the time of year and where you live, a whole house fan can be used in lieu of an air conditioning unit. All this is pretty good when you are looking for energy efficiency in homes. Of course as with most other energy efficient products and methods, there are pitfalls that need to be avoided. But done correctly, a whole house fan can be a great choice for your new or even existing home. (As a quick note, a whole house fans is not the same as an attic fan in function or purpose.)

ABOUT THIS BUILDER: Jon Ruch is the owner of Ruch Builders, LLC, a company that builds energy efficient homes in the Mid-South. To read this article in full, please visit Jon’s blog at:

WITH WHOLE HOUSE FANS

Saving Money

www.energysmartcustomhomes.com

J U L Y • A U G U S T 2 0 1 4 4 3

DECOR FIX

LUAU

More information: With a little help from Anne Canale and Karen Eskin, your perfect party awaits. The two friends started their business, “My Perfect Party,” after discovering they share a knack for

pulling together casual events that look like over-the-top affairs. For more information, tips and entertainment ideas, visit www.myperfectparty.com.

Tips and photos courtesy of My Perfect Party

Hawaiian

Ӻ Fresh fruit, party favors or even flowers will bring this centerpiece to life in seconds!

Ӻ Make a statement by serving fruit salad from a pineapple bowl or using a halved pineapple as a base for displaying colorful fruit kabobs.

Night or day, this fun soiree on the island of Hawaii is sure to thrill

everyone on your guest list.

This whimsical turtle of recycled cedar graces a cocktail table beautifully. Display magazines in it or use it as a serving tray in almost any area of your home.

J U L Y • A U G U S T 2 0 1 44 4

Fix would like to thank each and

every gardener who took the

time to send in an entry to our

annual garden contest. Five finalists

have been chosen and will be on display

at Graham’s Lighting and Outdoor

Living beginning July 16. Head over to

Graham’s to view our judges’ choices

and submit your vote for our first

People’s Choice Winner!

The garden contest winner will

be announced at a party at Graham’s

in the first week of August and in

the next issue of Fix magazine. The

prize? More than $2,000 in gifts from

our sponsors at Graham’s Lighting

and Outdoor Living, Gurley’s Azalea

Garden and Christie Cut Stone.

GARDENSGreatHere’s a look at this year’s submissions.

Maureen and Tony Bernot, Arlington

Karen Cannon, Memphis“On our porch is a sign given to me by a

wonderful friend that states, ‘Every Birdie Welcome.’ The garden is my stress reliever - my place to pray and think.” – Karen Cannon

Geraldina and Raul Cardenas, Cordova

J U L Y • A U G U S T 2 0 1 4 4 5

Madelyne Daneman, Germantown

Buddy Dietz, Memphis“Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like our backyard. We call it Central

Gardens Shabby Chic.” – Buddy Dietz

Bob, Susan and Keesha Furniss, Bartlett

Dawn Johnson, Memphis

“I love looking for rare and unusual

plants to add, so I’m always on the lookout for

something new.” – Dawn Johnson

George Kunzel, Germantown

J U L Y • A U G U S T 2 0 1 44 6

Michael and Denise Lachina

Sarah Lebovitz, Memphis“I think being a gardener is one of the healthiest and most sustaining

activities that a person can undertake and the best thing about it is that anyone can do it! You just have to not be too hard on yourself

when bugs and disease come to visit.” – Sarah Lebovitz

Jason Lurie, Cordova

Carolyn and Ike Martin, Cordova

Bruce and Paulette McCullar, Germantown“The backyard has been a 20 year labor of love

and it has paid immeasurable and priceless return to us over the years...There will be more beautiful gardens than ours, but none are more

appreciated.” – Bruce McCullar

J U L Y • A U G U S T 2 0 1 4 4 7

Donna Nelson, Collierville

Dianne Perkins, Memphis

Linda Pittman, Lakeland“I love to dig in the dirt and watch things

grow.” – Linda Pittman

Laura Renken, Eads“Living in the woods might prove a challenge creating

a garden for sun-loving colorful plants, but over the last few years, I have learned much about the world of shade. I have learned you can still have color and

much, much more that is unable to grow in a sun garden.” – Laura Renken

Carolyn Pollan, Memphis

J U L Y • A U G U S T 2 0 1 44 8

Paul Roberts, Cordova

William and Ann Schultz, Memphis“Our garden is cultivated as much by nature as

it is by the gardener.” – Bill Schultz

Laura Taylor, Cordova

Susan Thompson, Germantown

Dan and Belita Vowell, Cordova Vote for your favorite garden

beginning July 16 at Graham’s Lighting and Outdoor Living in Midtown Memphis. Your votes will help us crown our first People’s Choice Award

Winner!

J U L Y • A U G U S T 2 0 1 4 4 9

HOSPITALITY FIXRecipes by Sarah Matheny Gordon

Over the past year or two, gourmet

hot dogs have become a food

trend in cities across the United

States, including Memphis. Discovering

new and unique flavor combinations is

always exciting and rewarding, but only

really great recipes stand the test of time.

So, there is a reason this recipe for Coney

Island hot dogs has been popular since the

early 20th century! Even better, this recipe

comes together in less than 30 minutes,

making it an easy but impressively tasty

recipe to serve at a backyard barbeque

or to family on a weeknight. Of course,

these hotdogs would be delicious with

the addition or substitution of other

ingredients of your choosing, but you’ll

have to come up with a new name for the

dish you create. Who knows, it could be

the next big thing to appear on menus at

gourmet hot dog stands!

CONEY ISLAND HOT DOGS BLACKBERRY

MOJITOS&

However you choose to top

your hot dogs at cook-outs

this summer, wash them

down with this refreshing

twist on a classic summer

cocktail – a blackberry

mojito. Leave out the rum

and kids will love them too!

Recipes

J U L Y • A U G U S T 2 0 1 45 0

HOSPITALITY FIX

CONEY ISLAND HOT DOGS INGREDIENTS1½ pounds ground beef

2 Tbs. olive oil

1 white onion, finely minced

½ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste

3 Tbs. chili powder

1 Tbs. onion powder

2 Tbs. garlic powder

1 Tbs. Worcestershier sauce

1 Tbs. white sugar

1 Tbs. classic yellow mustard

2 tsp. paprika

2 tsp. cumin

½ tsp. nutmeg

½ tsp. ground white pepper

1 can tomato paste (12 oz.)

3 cups water

½ tsp. cayenne pepper, optional

1-2 tsp. Tabasco sauce, optional

8 hotdog buns (side-split buns provide a more sophisticated or gourmet look than traditional buns)

8 all-beef, bun-length hotdogs

DirectionsIn a nonstick skillet over medium

heat, add olive oil and ½ cup of

minced onion. Cook onions until

they begin to soften, about four

minutes. Add ground beef and use

a stiff spatula or wooden utensil to

break up the meat until it is crumbly.

This will take a few minutes, but the

process is worth it to have hotdog

chili with a smooth consistency.

When the ground beef is mostly

browned, add seasonings (all of the

remaining ingredients except for

tomato paste and water) and stir

to combine. Then, stir in tomato

paste and water until well-combined.

Cover and increase heat to medium

high, and allow chili sauce to simmer,

covered, for about ten minutes.

Remove cover and continue to

simmer, stirring occasionally, until

chili sauce has thickened to desired

consistency. Remove from heat.

J U L Y • A U G U S T 2 0 1 4 5 1

BLACKBERRY MOJITOS INGREDIENTS

DirectionsIn a 16 oz. glass, place

blackberries, and simple syrup.

Squeeze lime slices, and drop one

into the glass. With a muddler

or with the end of a wooden

spoon, muddle the ingredients by

simultaneously pressing down and

making a twisting motion. This

will release the fruit juices and the

fragrant mint oils and blend them

together. Add white rum, and then

add ice until the glass is about 2/3

full. Fill the remainder of the glass

with soda water. Stir gently but

thoroughly with a spoon, and garnish

with a young sprig of mint and a

blackberry, if desired.

To make simply syrup: In a small

saucepan, combine equal parts

warm water with granulated sugar

(for example, 1 cup warm water with

1 cup sugar). Heat on low and stir

gently until sugar is fully dissolved.

Allow to come to room temperature

before using. Store in a tightly

covered container in the refrigerator.

2 large blackberries*

2 Tbs. simple syrup (see recipe below)

2 large mint leaves or 4 small ones, torn in half

1.5 oz. white rum

Juice from two wedges of lime, about 1 Tbs. of juice

Soda water or seltzer water

Taste and add salt if desired.

Cook hotdogs by package

instructions or your preferred

method (grilling, steaming, boiling).

For a Coney Island style chili dog,

place hotdogs inside buns, then

top with chili sauce, finely minced

onions, and prepared yellow mustard

* Any ripe berry or even mango can be substituted for blackberries. For even more flavor, add a teaspoon of pomegranate juice. This recipe makes a delicious classic mojito if no berries are available.

J U L Y • A U G U S T 2 0 1 45 2

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