Your resource for buying, selling and enjoying your home on the Palouse.

Palouse LIVING

March 2015Moscow-Pullman Daily News

The latest trends in wallpaper

� | March �015 | Moscow-Pullman Daily News Palouse liviNg

Every year, millions of Americans enjoy the rewards of homeownership. And they look to Wells Fargo Home Mortgage to help them find the home financing to fit their needs and goals. I’d like to help you too.

With a variety of programs and dedication to personal service, you can feel confident that I’ll provide you with the information you need to help you choose the home financing to fit your current needs and future goals.

• Conventional / FHA / VA Loans • Fixed or Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARMs)• New construction and renovation loans • The attentive service of knowledgeable professionals • PriorityBuyer® preapprovals

Information is accurate as of date of printing and is subject to change without notice. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. © 2012 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. NMLSR ID 399801. AS1058693 Expires 5/2015

Rachel Ellen LaineHome Mortgage Consultant221 S Main StMoscow, ID 83843Office: 208-883-5659Cell: 208-874-2452rachel.e.laine@wellsfargo.comwww.wfhm.com/rachel-laineNMLSR ID 1015986

Call today!

Your goals deserve my attention

Moscow-Pullman Daily News | March 2015 | �Palouse liviNg

Over the last few years, wallpaper has made a real comeback.

Sometimes it dresses up just one wall, but full-room covering has also had a resurgence of popularity. And wallpaper is no longer limited to walls; it can even be found on ceilings and lining bookshelves. So, the time has come to rethink your decorating? Here are some of the latest trends in wallpaper that can help you give your home an up-to-date look.

a profusion of flowers Floral patterns are back in force,

whether you prefer delicate prints or dramatic oversized patterns. This is the perfect opportunity to create a rustic feel with wallpaper depicting flowers or country prints, or an exotic atmosphere with animals and paisleys.

graphic patterns in the spotlight This year, lines and geometric shapes

are everywhere. Think diamonds, triangles, semicircles, and squares; not all of them in the same print, of course.

a retro look Retro style is also very popular,

especially with the return of gingham patterns. So give your home an up-to-date look by going back a few years.

The perfect illusion Trompe-l’oeil wallpaper is ideal for

adding style to your rooms. You can choose a book motif for a library effect, or a wood-paneling design instead of expensive woodwork. Have a blue sky for a larger than life ceiling, and your decor will never go unnoticed.

This year, different shades of purple, pastels, green, blue-gray, and bright yellow are very fashionable. You can count on these colors to create the latest in looks.

The latest trends in wallpaper Newspaper Toolbox

Are you tired of looking at your dresser? Getting rid of it isn’t

your only solution. In fact, you could give it a whole new look with only a little bit of effort. Here are some ideas for quickly transforming that old piece of furniture into a beautiful dresser.

Paint brushes to the ready Use paint to give your dresser a

new identity. A pastel or saturated colour? A warm or cool tone? A matte finish or glossy lacquer? All the choices will allow you to unleash your creativity. You could even choose a different colour for each drawer, draw stripes or geometric shapes, or paint designs using a stencil. For an antique look, choose patina-effect paint.

operation wallpaper Wallpaper is extremely popular

at the moment; it’s perfect for transforming a dresser. You can use the same wallpaper for all the drawers or opt for different patterns. For example, if your dresser has several

rectangular drawers, you could play with patterns and colours to create a patchwork effect.

Dress up that dresser If you don’t want to get into painting

or wallpapering, you could update your furniture by simply changing a few details. Replace the drawer pulls with new ones and add moldings to the drawer fronts to give them extra character. Or use classy decals to give them your personal touch.

Breathing new life into a dresser doesn’t take much time or money. What’s needed most to complete this project is a creative imagination.

An easy DIY project to transform your dresser

Newspaper Toolbox Are You Ready?

Buy Sell Lease

We’re Ready!

Put The Pieces

www.teamIDAHOrealestate.com

204 S Main St.Moscow ID 83843

Ph: (208) 882-9500

We are agents whoListen, Care, and Take the Time…

� | March 2015 | Moscow-Pullman Daily News Palouse liviNg

Regular readers know that we consider ourselves in a strong

market. Of course, as with all things real estate the market is very specific to your location and although North Idaho real estate is moving at a comfortable pace, not every nook and cranny of our market is booming.

Many Realtors who were active during the feeding frenzy of 2004-2007 and survived the recession know how to handle situations of multiple offers. This phenomena is back and we are experiencing that reality often with well-priced listings. So how do you protect a seller or how does a seller protect themselves when marketing a hot property?

It is pretty easy when several offers are received at once. We have a form for that. The seller will counter all parties with our RE-32 Multiple Counter Offer form. This puts each “bidder” on notice that there are others vying for the same property

and that each is being encouraged to take another stab at an offer. Neither the buyer nor the seller are obligated to continue to dicker. The buyer may respond that their offer is final, up the ante, or simply walk away. The seller may make different counter offers to each prospective buyer as the form states: “SELLER is making one or more counter offer(s) to other prospective BUYER(s) on terms that may or may not be the same or similar to the terms contained herein.”

We agree, the language can be a bit unnerving and the seller is not obligated to sell to any of the bidders regardless how aggressive their next offer may be. There was a time when sellers would often get well above their asking price because desirable properties were so scarce. We are beginning to see this happen with increasing frequency today.

Most offers lower than the asking price will receive a counter offer from

the seller. In that event, the seller reserves the right to withdraw that counter offer anytime prior to the delivery of a signed counter: “Until Final Acceptance has occurred either Party may withdraw any offer, counter offer or multiple counter offer to buy or sell the PROPERTY.”

Often, even when a property sits on the market for a while, a mysterious law of attraction causes another offer to be tendered on the heels of the first. When this happens a seller is in a position to accept the second offer if the counter offer has not been signed and delivered to them. A buyer who likes to negotiate can find themselves looking again if they make too many attempts to negotiate or deliberate too long over a reasonable counter offer from the seller.

A seller’s agent can anticipate that another offer may come while waiting for a buyer to accept a counter and protect their seller by having them sign a document withdrawing their counter offer at the same time they

are signing the counter offer. That way, if another offer is received that is better than the first the seller can accept it by delivering the withdrawal notice that their agent has prepared in anticipation.

Negotiation is expected by both parties. In a strong real estate market though, the risks increase with the level of activity. Be careful out there!

Trust an expert...call a Realtor. Call your Realtor or visit www.cdarealtors.com to search properties on the Multiple Listing Service or to find a Realtor member who will represent your best interests.

Kim Cooper is a real estate broker and the spokesman for the Coeur d’Alene Association of Realtors. Kim and the association invite your feedback and input for this column. You may contact them by writing to the Coeur d’Alene Association of Realtors, 409 W. Neider, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815 or by calling (208) 667-0664.

Negotiating in a strong market By Kim Cooper/Special to The Press/CDAPress.com

There are many things the public knows about Saint Patrick’s Day,

but there’s much they may not know about the holiday or Irish-American heritage for that matter. Here are some facts and trivia that might surprise even the most devoted of Patty’s Day revelers.

∙ Despite St. Patrick being alive centuries earlier, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations didn’t begin until 1737.

∙ More people of Irish heritage live in the United States than currently live in all of Ireland.

∙ Saint Patrick angered the Celtic Druids many times by converting pagans to Christianity. The Druids put him in jail on numerous occasions.

∙ Green is not the official color affiliated with Saint Patrick. It is really blue. However, green became a familiar hue during the nineteenth century more for being associated

with the magic of Irish legends than Saint Patrick himself.

∙ The three-leaf shamrock has more historical significance with regards to Saint Patrick’s day than a four-leaf clover. That’s because the three leaves were believed to be used by St. Patrick to explain the Christian doctrine of the Holy Trinity, where God exists as three persons.

∙ For 67 years, Saint Patrick’s Day was a “dry” holiday in Ireland. James O’Mara, a member of Irish parliament, introduced a bill in 1903 that made Saint Patrick’s Day a religious holiday in the country. Therefore, local pubs were obligated to close. The law was overturned in 1970.

∙ According to their Web site, Hallmark has been selling green Saint Patrick’s Day cards since the early 1920s, now selling as many as 15 million annually.

Seldom-heard Saint Patrick’s Day factsMetro Connections

DON’T MISS THIS EXCITING NEW RESIDENTIAL OPPORTUNITY!LOTS STARTING AS LOW AS $45,000.

Your River Pointe Agents:C.D. “Butch” Booker and Justin Shahan809 N Main St, Colfax, WA • (509) 397-4434kincaidre@colfax.com • kincaidrealestate.com

RIVER POINTEColfax’s Newest Residential Development!

ARE YOU DOWNSIZING? A SNOWBIRD? READY TO GIVE UP MOWING, WATERING & SHOVELING SNOW?

• Nine level building lots of varying size, most with Palouse River frontage

• Paved walking path around the neighborhood

• Utilities installed up to each lot line

• 8’ privacy fence• Easy walk to the grocery

store and downtown

• Access to high quality healthcare, recreation areas, universities

• Homeowners Association oversight

Moscow-Pullman Daily News | March 2015 | 5Palouse liviNg

Zen gardens originated in China and were designed as places

for Buddhist monks to pray. They welcomed the devout into outdoor areas where nature had been stripped down to the bare essentials, in a reflection of their spiritual beliefs. Later, the Japanese developed their own outdoor areas in the form of meditation gardens. These influenced today’s Zen style with its minimalist approach and a pared down layout where repetition of design and plant species are favoured over diversity.

If you would like to create your very own Zen garden, be sure to choose small trees with white blossoms — white is a highly symbolic color for the Japanese. Opt for magnolias or apple trees, which will also exude unforgettable fragrances. White azaleas are also perfect for this type of garden, along with dwarf pines, ferns, grasses, and hostas.

Green lawns are not normally part of Zen gardens. Ground cover that creeps around stones is preferred, such as thyme, white violets, or periwinkle. Wood or bamboo furniture is perfect, accompanied by oriental-style screens or delicate archways. Stone lanterns and Japanese style pots compliment the arrangements. Another must in a Zen garden is a discreet water feature, even just a rock with a small hollow in the middle would be ideal. After all, the secret to Zen garden success is moderation.

Zen gardens require little maintenance work and are great for small areas, as they are made up almost entirely of stones, pebbles, and plants in repeating patterns. Now, close your eyes and visualize a wooden bridge over a stream of white pebbles and a bed of creeping thyme. What a soothing place to relax and catch up with yourself!

A Zen gardenNewspaper Toolbox

Your pantry’s a real combat zone? Your dry staples are

spilling out of their bags, powdered spices cover the shelves, and there may even be a mouse in there somewhere. When your pantry is a total mess, you can never find anything, and when you do, it’s way past its expiry date. The time has come to solve this problem once and for all.

1. sort Before reorganizing, a major

cleanup is required. Empty the pantry and wash the shelves with a non-toxic cleaning product. Take an inventory of what you have; you may find that some foods are duplicated and some are no longer edible. Sort everything, discarding expired foodstuffs and setting aside for the food bank any unopened items that you’ll never use.

2. store If you want your pantry to be an

effective storage space for your food,

it all has to be clearly visible. Use clear containers made of plastic or glass to store your various foods. Opt for square or rectangular containers, as they stack and store nicely; round containers tend to waste space. Place your flour, cereals, rice, and pulses in airtight containers to keep them out of reach of insects. If necessary, label the containers.

3. organize Organize your shelves by

category: macaroni with spaghetti, flour with sugar, dried basil with parsley. Alternatively, you can group together foods that you usually combine, such as pasta and tomato sauce. Place foods you use most frequently at the front of the middle shelves. Store candies, cookies, and treats high up, away from the children, and keep heavier bags and packages of food on the lower shelves to avoid accidents.

So, now it’s time to get to work; you’ve got a lot to do!

3 steps to reorganizing your pantryNewspaper Toolbox

(208) 746-8196 | 4020 Hatwai Road, LewistonGraniteConceptsNW.com | /GraniteConcepts

LARGESTSELECTION INTHE REGION!

SET IN STONE.Beauty

120+COLORS

Kitchens • Bathrooms • Desks • BBQs • Fire Pits • Fireplaces

� | March 2015 | Moscow-Pullman Daily News Palouse liviNg

True confession time. Before submitting my previous column

on green cleaning, in which I waxed enthusiastic about having my kids make their own green cleaning spray (which would magically motivate them to start cleaning the kitchen and bathroom), I deleted one crucial line: I’ll report back on our progress in a future column.

Yup. Enthusiastic though I was about trying this, no way was I going to commit to divulging the results. But now, nearly six weeks in, I can honestly say I am stunned—in a good way—by how well this is going.

Here’s a glimpse. We started by each making a spray bottle’s worth of all-purpose green-cleaning spray (water, 1 cup white vinegar, 6 Tablespoons lemon juice, 10 drops of citrus or other essential oil).

We had two essential oils on hand, lavender and eucalyptus, purchased approximately ten years before. As

my 13-year-old daughter said of this combination: “Smells like port-a-potty.” That didn’t stop anyone.

She and her ten-year-old brother were remarkably and weirdly enthusiastic almost from the get-go. Actual dialogue as we entered the bathroom:

“I want to spray the shower!”“I want to help with the shower!”My son seemed more excited

about using the spray bottle to clean the bathtub than he had been when he played laser tag for the first time a few weeks before, an activity I could see now was remarkably similar. He used a full bottle of spray on this first foray, and every spritz was accompanied by loud sound effects along the lines of “Hi-YAH! Hi-YAH!” Actual dialogue:

Me: Let’s stop! Please stop!Him: But this is hyper-powered!I had to leave the room. When I

finally came back he said, “Okay, I’m done,” but then he kept scrubbing.

Basically the kids cleaned while I stood there with my mouth open and documented.

Meanwhile, my daughter was invested in scrubbing the sink with a piece of fine-mesh drywall screen (available at Moscow Building Supply). When my husband (who for the record does more than his fair share of work around the house) got home and saw the condition of the sink, these were his actual words: “How crazy! That’s insane! What did you do? It’s all gleaming white!”

True enough, the drain plug, which had for years been a dingy yellow, was now bright white. But more surprising still was how gung-ho the kids continued to be about the cleaning process.

One thing we did not get to was the “special treat” of cleaning the toilet with vinegar and baking soda (the famed ingredients of many a science fair erupting volcano project).

The next morning, however, on his own initiative, my son announced, “I made a baking soda and vinegar explosion in the downstairs toilet this morning. It was kind of boring. It just made a little bit of fizz under the water. I’m pretty sure the baking soda has to be dry to react,” he theorized.

Not wasting any time, my daughter was already installed in the upstairs bathroom, scrubbing fake Halloween blood off the sink and other surfaces with the drywall screen.

In Totally Together, Stephanie O’Dea suggests a quick daily “wipe-down” of the bathroom to avoid big cleaning

jobs later on. She grabs a random t-shirt from the dirty clothes pile to wipe up excess water and toothpaste blobs. As the week went on, and as the—surprise!—occasional wet toilet seat indicated, the kids were indeed following through with cleaning daily.

By now the bloom is perhaps off the rose. But this is as it should be. With modest prompting the kids have kept up the cleaning. Recently they made green-cleaning soft scrub (see the recipe below), which works even better than the spray for occasional use.

While I’m not planning to host a dinner party or art installation in our bathroom any time soon, I’m pleased to say so far this endeavor has been astonishingly successful. Hi-YAH!

Judy Sobeloff is a teaching artist and freelance writer who lives with her family in Moscow.

Green cleaning for all, part two: kids!By Judy Sobeloff

ingredients

3/4 cup baking soda

1/4 cup castile soap (such as Dr. Bronner’s peppermint)

1 Tablespoon waterCombine the baking soda and

castile soap in a bowl. Add the water and stir with a fork until you have a

creamy consistency. Scoop out with a sponge to use. Store the rest in an air-tight container.

soaps, towels or maybe flowers. Hide your razors, toothbrushes and shampoos out of sight in a cabinet while your house is being shown.

Clean out your closets so they aren’t packed to the rafters.

Green-Cleaning Bathroom Soft Scrub (adapted from Emily McClements, www.liverenewed.com)

& Mattress

630 PULLMAN ROAD | MOSCOW, IDMOSCOWFURNITURECENTER.COM

(208) 882-4114

Home of the Big Red Rocker!

OPEN 7 DAYS

A WEEK

$1,79995 Queen Set$2,29995 King Set

Savant®Everfeel™ Plush

America’s#1 Best Selling

Mattress!

Mention or Bring

in Ad for a HUGE

10% DISCOUNT

off Set Price

Moscow-Pullman Daily News | March 2015 | 7PALOUSE LIVING

When homeowners think about renovating their properties,

many first need to secure some funding to finance such projects. Some may tap into the equity of their homes by refinancing an existing mortgage, while others may apply for home equity loans. Taking the latter approach may require certain steps, including an assessment of how much the home and property is worth.

Home appraisals compare your home to neighboring properties to determine your home’s current market value. Homeowners can facilitate the process by having certain information readily available for the appraiser. When preparing for appraisers, homeowners should consider and collect the following information:

· If you have made significant upgrades since it was last appraised, such as installing a new roof or siding. Don’t overlook smaller renovations, like extra insulation added or sealing drafty windows, which can increase a home’s value.

· If your home was built on the largest lot in the community.

· Proof that you have used sustainable resources or if you participated in any energy-savings programs.

Naturally, any expansion projects, such as adding another bedroom or extending the footprint of the home,

should be mentioned.A real estate appraiser is a certified,

licensed professional who will do his or her best to determine the value of your home. The appraisal provides banks with information that can tell loan officers if the house is worth the loan amount. Expect to pay a fee for the appraisal, which is generally included in your closing costs.

The appraiser gathers information for the appraisal report from a number of sources, but the process often begins with a physical inspection of the property, both inside and out. He or she also will compare your home against a few others in the neighborhood, which are known as comparables, or comps. Appraisals will be based on recent prices of comparable properties as well as other factors.

Apart from the improvements done to the home, there are other ways to get a higher appraisal amount. The appraiser may consider the overall maintenance of the home and property. It is wise to consider curb appeal and ensure the home is clean and maintained when the appraiser arrives. Minor repairs or common maintenance can impress the appraiser. Removing clutter and cleaning up the home’s interior can make the home appear larger, possibly increasing its value as a result.

It may be worth it to invest some

more money into the property before having an appraisal done. A study sponsored by the National Association of Realtors says wood floors, landscaping and an enclosed garage can lead to a more favorable appraisal.

An appraiser will spend roughly 30 minutes in a home. Try to give that person space to do his or her job. Following the appraiser around during an inspection can raise a red flag that something is wrong with the house that you don’t want to be seen. Turn lights on throughout the house, make sure the heating or cooling system is functioning at full capacity and keep pets locked away. Move items that can impede access to basements or attics.

An accurate assessment of the value of your home will give banks the information they need to determine loan amounts for future renovation projects. Providing background

information on the home and having a well-maintained property can improve the chances of a favorable appraisal.

Make the most of your home appraisalMetro Connections

At least once a year people gather to enjoy a dish that

is widely associated with Irish culture. Corned beef is a meat that is customarily served alongside potatoes and cabbage. Many people understand the “beef”part of the corned beef name, but do not understand the “corned”part.

Corning refers to pickling meat in brine. Brines, which are composed of salt water, were often used to preserve

meats when refrigeration was not available.

According to the Department of Agriculture, the word “corn”comes from Anglo-Saxon times when meat was dry-cured in coarse “corns” of salt. Pellets of salt were rubbed into the meat to preserve it.

Corned beef brines today contain more than just salt. They may have different spices and flavorings to add to the taste of the meat.

What is corned beef?Metro Connections

217 S. Main StreetMoscow, Idaho(208) 882-0800www.cbtmoscow.com

We’ve moved!Our new address is:

217 S. Main Street Moscow, Idaho

Stop by & say hi!

� | March 2015 | Moscow-Pullman Daily News Palouse liviNg