Home & Design 7-26-2013

HOME & DESIGNJuly 2013 • A special supplement to the Morris Daily Herald • A division of Shaw Media

Top remodeling Trends For the modern home

BudgeT-friendly waysTo refresh old outdoor spaces

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2 | Morris Daily Herald • Home & Design • July 2013

Indoors or outdoors, your home decor needs some TLC to look its best. Replacing worn or dated furniture or floor-ing inside your home is considered fairly easy. But when outdoor spaces start to appear shabby, do you decide to live with the tired look because you think freshen-ing the space will be too time-consuming or costly?

A few budget-friendly improvements and decorating touches can revital-ize worn outdoor spaces and help them look new and inviting again. Here are some common challenges, and tips for overcoming them:

Worn decks, patios or porchesDecks, patios and porches are popu-

lar spots for home improvements - ones that create a staging place for outdoor en-tertaining or just relaxing and enjoying nature. When a wood deck becomes old and worn, or concrete patios crack, you may think the only solution is to replace them. But before you take that costly step, consider alternatives that can revitalize the existing surface without the need to replace it.

According to Scott Richards, senior vice president of marketing at Behr Paints, BEHR DECKOVER Solid Color Coating is a smooth finish resurfacing product that brings old, weathered wood or concrete

surfaces back to life with a unique solu-tion that hasn’t existed before, and it’s a budget-friendly alternative to replacing deck boards, railings, porches, boat docks, pool decking or patios.

“BEHR DECKOVER protects against the elements, while refreshing the appear-ance of wood and concrete,” says Rich-ards. “With just two coats and no primer needed, the thick coating covers splinters and fills cracks up to a quarter of an inch, spreading as easily as paint. We’ve cre-ated a way to achieve a low maintenance deck that resists the elements, repels wa-ter and creates a smooth, slip-resistant finish that is comfortable for bare feet.” It’s available at The Home Depot stores nationwide and comes in 54 colors. Visit www.behr.com to learn more.

Adding accents like decorative railings or lighted post caps can also revive the look of older decks. Deck manufacturers offer a variety of options for railings, from carved wood to metal and even glass. In most cases, you can add these railings to your existing deck boards, allowing you to replace just part of the deck and achieve a brand-new, designer look.

Tired furnitureReplacing sun-faded, weather-

damaged cushions on outdoor furniture is a good start, and easy enough to do.

But what do you do when the furniture frame has seen better days? Depending on the type of construction, you have several options including painting and reupholstering.

Landscaping and lightingModern outdoor settings allow na-

ture and technology to meet. Give your exterior living space a new modern look by upgrading both landscaping and lighting. Improving your landscaping can be as easy as planting a few container gardens around your deck or patio and filling them with flowers that will bloom throughout the season. Nothing looks fresher and livelier than flowers.

Next, look at how your outdoor space is lit. Adding lighting allows you to enjoy the space safely after the sun goes down, but dated lighting can make your deck or patio look dull. Plus, older lights are often not as energy-efficient as newer options. Upgrade lighting by replacing old fixtures with newer options, such as solar-powered lights or ones that use energy-sipping CFLs or LEDs.

Making your old outdoor space look like it belongs beside a new showcase home doesn’t have to be difficult or costly. With a few budget-minded tips and tools, it’s possible for any do-it-yourselfer to make everything old new again. n

Content courtesy of brandpointcontent.com

Budget-friendly ways to refresh old outdoor spaces

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Morris Daily Herald • Home & Design • July 2013 | 3

No other flooring option delivers the splendour, warmth and value of natural wood. Today there are countless colours available to choose from as well as dif-ferent species, each with their unique characteristics. No matter the decor style of your home -- modern, contemporary, zen, rustic or urban -- today’s hardwood flooring manufacturers have something for every style and taste.

“From natural rustic looks to cutting edge contemporary, here are the four key steps to consider to create a unique centerpiece hardwood floor that’s custom tailored for any interior space from country home to urban loft.

Color schemeAre you looking for something light or

dark? Understated or with bold charac-ter? Choose the color that best matches

your decor from a wide variety of colors available in each species. For uniform hue and a clean look, opt for either “Select & Better” or “Premium” grades. If you enjoy more pronounced color variation and wood with more character, you may prefer “Antique” or “Classic” grades.

SpeciesFrom Red Oak, Hard Maple, Yellow

Birch, White Ash, White Oak or Brazilian Cherry, each wood species has its own personality and distinct look (grades and width) that comes across in its maturity, hardness, and durability.

GlossDepending on the species, you can

choose between a matte, semi-gloss and satin finish. A matte, semi-gloss finish tends to project a more formal atmosphere; whereas the natural look of a satin finish

will feel more casual and better disguise wear and tear.

Widths and texturesWider planks, which are becoming in-

creasingly popular, tend to create a more casual rustic appearance, while narrow planks are more formal. Manufacturers are now offering 6 1/2” and even 7 1/4” boards in certain species. This is part of the emerging trend of the last few years where consumers are seeking more rustic looks for their hardwood flooring choices. Along with wider boards, another way this is achieved is with the latest use of different textures to give wood either a distressed look of barn wood, prominent knots or the natural lines of boards planed the old fashioned way. n

Select a customized hardwood floor in 4 easy steps

Content courtesy of metrocreativeconnection.com

Thanks to foreclosures and short sales, home buyers are snatching up great houses at reduced prices and remodeling to create stylish modern homes. Lucky for those buyers, many of today’s top trends are relatively easy to recreate, and will add re-sale value to their homes.

“TV interior design shows are mostly about buying and remodeling a home, versus building from scratch or find-ing a new property that precisely fits a wish list with plenty of personal require-ments,” says Dani Kohl, program coordi-nator for the bachelor of science in interior design program at The Art Institute of Indianapolis and a practicing architect and interior designer.

The top remodeling trends include:

• Uniting the kitchen and living space for an open-floor concept• Culture dictating an increase square footage for entertainment, haven from a busy work schedule or modern luxuries• Finding multi-functional uses for both spaces and furniture

On average, Kohl’s residential clients are spending about $40,000 to $60,000 to renovate and remodel their homes. Most of the money is spent in the kitchens, master bedrooms and bathrooms.

“Gone are the days of the formal dining room and living room,” says Kohl. “Walls are being knocked down to join the two rooms.”

Parents want to be able to cook while watching kids do homework or enter-taining guests. Kitchen islands most often serve as the main division between kitchen and living space, and are the entertainment centers of a kitchen.

“Kitchen islands are looking more like free-standing furniture pieces with elaborate marble tops and wood work, and interior designers are often finding functional yet hidden places to store the trash can and keep the dish washer from view,” Kohl says.

Pedro Lima, an interior design instruc-tor at The Art Institute of New York City and owner of Pedro Lima Interiors, says that temporary partitions between the living space and kitchen are also on the rise. These partitions can be of varying heights, whether it’s a two-way fireplace or modern book shelving. Partitions are a great option for homeowners who want that open-floor plan for the kitchen and living room, while still maintaining a defined space for each.

Lima says that our current culture and habits are driving the changes in modern, interior spaces.

“When it comes to the master bed-room, we are looking at a more pampering atmosphere,” he says. Both Kohl and Lima agree that clients want more of a spa-like feeling than ever before to create a bedroom that is a safe haven for over-worked homeowners.

“Master bedrooms now have their own seating areas and entertainment nooks,

and have become personal spaces away from everything,” Lima says.

An increase in square footage for closet space is another popular request, according to Lima. “We, as designers, are now looking into proper modular systems of rods and shelving, in addition to our architectural and design duties.”

Closets are not just for storage anymore, either. “Now, we’re looking at closets to serve as a dressing space in addition to serving as a place to store an increased amount of clothes and shoes.”

How are clients gaining square footage for the needs of today’s residential space without making a complete renovation and creating add-ons to their homes?

Lima says that downsiz ing to accommodate upsizing is part of the remodel plans too.

“Designers are spending more time at looking for innovative ways to add versatile furniture that serve multifunc-tional purposes,” he says. “For instance, coffee tables also serve as storage spaces and additional seating, wall units have built-in desks, and couches open up to beds in home offices.”

Whichever remodeling trend home-owners choose to apply, all trends point toward integration, simplification and organization, as homeowners seek to enjoy their homes and share it with family and friends. n



Top remodel trends for the modern home

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A fresh coat of paint can give any room an instant lift, making it a great solution for converting a space from drab to fab.

Though neutrals reign as America’s most popular paint choices, the National Home Color Survey from Sherwin-Williams shows people are becoming bolder with color. Three-in-four homeowners indicate they want to incorporate more color into their home, most commonly in their living room, bedroom and kitchen.

“Colorful paint is an easy and inexpen-sive way to stylishly transform a space,” said David Bromstad, HGTV(R) star and celebrity interior designer. “Set the mood for a room with a splash of color and you’ll spice up your space like a design pro.”

Bromstad offers the following tips for anyone looking to add color to their home:

Identify a colorful object as the focal point of the room. Select bold items to build your room around, such as a piece of artwork, rug or chair that really makes a statement.

Use a color palette to guide de-sign choices. -HGTV(R) HOME by Sherwin-Williams takes the guesswork out of choosing colors with coordinated collections of color, paint and wallpaper designed to flow beautifully throughout your home. Mix and match the colors to help guide your wall, furniture and accessory color choices.

C o o r d i n a t e y o u r c o l o r transitions. For high-impact transitions, combine bolder shades with their more neutral counterparts and for a more tranquil transition, stick to softer or lighter shades

that are from the same color family.Highlight unexpected areas. Turn

ordinary areas like ceilings, banisters or door frames into extraordinary spaces. If you want to keep walls neutral, paint a piece of furniture, such as a chair, head-board or the back of a bookshelf.

Use colorful patterns for the illusion of space. Horizontal stripes can help small rooms feel more spacious, while vertical stripes can add the illusion of height to low ceilings.

“Every colorful room adds personality to a home, from playful to serene to luxuri-ous and beyond,” said Bromstad. “That’s what’s great about paint colors; they allow you to express yourself through your home.” nContent courtesy of brandpointcontent.com

Give your home afresh look with color


Cleaning and maintaining carpeted floors

Much like paint, carpeting can quickly transform the look of a room. Carpeting can be a durable flooring material, but it will need upkeep to look its best.

Carpeting that will be in high-traffic areas, such as halls and entryways, may require the most TLC. Routine vacuum-ing is necessary to dislodge dust and dirt particles. But at some point a more thorough cleaning may be necessary.

VacuumingFrequent vacuuming will prolong the

life of the carpet by preventing a buildup of particles inside of the carpet fiber that can eventually cause friction and sever carpet fibers. Use of a crevice tool and other attachments can enable cleaning in the corners where the carpet meets baseboards and moldings. When vacu-uming larger rooms, divide the room into separate areas and tackle each area separately before moving on to another portion of the room.

Take time when vacuuming carpet. Plush carpets will trap dirt more easily than a thinner or less dense carpet, so more passes of the vacuum might be necessary. Overlap strokes in a crisscross pattern to get at dirt at different angles.

Pet hair and vacuumed particles of food can create odor inside of the vacuum bag. Therefore, think about adding baking soda or an odor-relieving product designed to be used when vacuuming.

Treating spillsSpills are one thing that homeown-

ers in carpeted homes may fear. If not

addressed quickly, liquid or food may permanently damage a carpet. It is ad-viseable to manage a spill as soon as it happens to reduce the likelihood that it will contribute to a permanent stain. Carefully blot up the spill until much of the offending item is removed before adding any type of cleaning agent. Test the cleaning product in an inconspicuous area prior to using it on the spill to ensure it will not damage or discolor the carpet.

Work from the outside of the stain and move inward to keep the stain from spreading outward. Use a plush, white towel to blot up any remaining moisture and spill. The towel also will help to fluff up the pile of the carpet.

Remove shoesDirt and germs can be tracked into the

house on the bottom of shoes. Eventually this material can be deposited on carpets, which then becomes lodged inside the fibers. To reduce the amount of dirt tracked in, make it a rule to take off shoes upon entering the house. If pets are the culprits of tracked-in dirt, keep a towel by the door and wipe the animal’s paws before allowing it to roam through the house.

Steam clean to refreshIf you don’t already own a steam-clean-

er, they can be rented for a fraction of the cost of buying one. Together with steam, a cleaning solution is usually part of the procedure. The steam and cleaning prod-uct will loosen and dissolve dirt and then the dirty remains will be sucked up into a receptacle to be emptied. Steam cleaning

is one of the easiest methods of thorough-ly cleaning carpeting and reviving it to look as good as new. Many homeowners are quite surprised to see how much dirt can be removed from the carpet by using a steam-cleaner.

Intermittent use of a steam spot cleaner can help keep high-traffic areas of the home and stairs clean or treat a persistent stain that doesn’t respond to hand cleaning.

Use area rugsThere is a misconception that area rugs

are used in lieu of carpeting, but both can be used together. An area rug may be placed near an entryway to catch dirt from shoes before it is tracked elsewhere in the house. Area rugs can be used under a dining table where the frequent pulling out and pushing in of chairs may wear down carpeting.

Eliminate staticStatic electricity can plague peo-

ple who live in homes with carpeting, especially during cool, dry weather. Placing a dryer sheet on the bottom of a dry sponge mop and then running it over the carpet can alleviate static. This will help prevent those annoying shocks or even damage to electronic equipment from static shocks.

Carpeting is something that can make a statement in a home. When maintained, it can look beautiful for years to come. n

Content courtesy of metrocreativeconnection.com

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The best bathrooms are more than just functional areas - they’re sanctuar-ies where you can escape, reset and recharge. And as one of the smallest and most-used rooms in the home, that’s likely why they’ve become the most popular remodeling project.

Create a focal point with updated faucets It’s a focal point, one of the most

frequently used items in the bath, so it’s important that your vanity incorpo-rates a fabulous faucet. The Moen Weth-erly bathroom faucet offers a refreshed, old-world design that’s guaranteed to add a touch of luxury. If you like a more industrial, yet elegant look, Gibson bathroom faucets feature an edgy, square-shaped high-arc spout and sleek lever handles.

Add beauty with bath hardwareOnce you’ve upgraded your faucet,

look to the other metallic accents in the room for a subtle, yet effective way to pull together the design. Coordinating bath hardware, such as towel bars, rings, robe hooks, shelves, knobs and pulls, will instantly add a functional and fashionable impact.

Let there be light Assess your current lighting to ensure

it offers the look and feel you want for your bath. Too dark? Add new decorative fixtures that complement your faucets and hardware. There are many styles that feature multiple lamps for added illumina-tion. Too bright? Add a dimmer switch to your lighting to soften the mood when you’re looking to relax.

Set the mood with colorRoom color affects our moods and

thoughts - so choose wisely. Add a splash of color to the walls with a fresh coat of high-gloss paint to give the space an

instant facelift. Create a zen retreat by enhancing your bath with shades of yellow, which are energizing and uplifting; or soft blues, which are calming, relaxing and serene.

Don’t think that fix-ups have to be long, drawn-out projects. By following these fast updates, you’ll be surprised how quickly and easily you can take your bathroom from boring to a spa-like sanctuary. n

Fast and fabulous fixes to banish a boring bath


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Home & Design 7-26-2013