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News ofInterest
Thursday,September 17,
2009
For the DYSART REPORTER, GLADBROOK NORTHERN SUN-PRINT, REINBECK COURIER, TAMA NEWS-HERALD, TRAER STAR-CLIPPER
INSIDE IOWA
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FALL
HOME
IMPROVEMENT
LEFT- A dramatic room makeover can be done inex-pensively with the help of paint and stylish accessories,as shown above. Designer Amy Matthews
Priceless Design
Low-cost projectsthat make yourhome look like a
million bucks
Family Features (SPECIAL) - If you have big designdreams but are working with a small budget, no fear -you don’t have to sacrifice style and professional-look-ing results.
“When people think about do-it-yourself projects,they automatically think aboutcostly, floor-to-ceiling overhauls,”says designer and contractor AmyMatthews of the DIY Network’s“Sweat Equity” and “BathroomRenovations.” “However, there areseveral low-cost projects thathomeowners can tackle to freshenup their home’s style and add apunch of personality.”
Try these budget-friendly deco-rating tips from Matthews to helpget you the priceless design you’ve always wanted with-out breaking the bank.
Shed a little light: Give your kitchen an instant andinexpensive makeover simply by replacing outdated fix-tures such as faucets, lighting and hardware. You canalso add a tile backsplash or under-cabinet lights to real-ly dress up your kitchen. Not only are these functionaland design-oriented, they really help deliver a big bang
for your buck.A little dab will do: Before you commit to a paint
color, buy samples and try them out on the wall. Seehow the color looks during the day, at night and undervarious types of lighting. Also, be sure to have painter’stape on hand, such as Scotch-Blue Painter’s Tape forDelicate Surfaces. Whether you’re painting one accentwall or tackling the whole house, masking trim, base-boards, and other areas with painter’s tape lets you avoida mess and achieve clean, sharp paint lines.
Something old, something new: Add one specialpiece in the living room that makes a great conversationstarter. This could be a lighting fixture, a piece of furni-ture or a unique rug - something signature to your style.You can find great pieces by shopping at designer salesand discount showrooms, or uncover treasures in yourown house. Rummage through the attic or basement torediscover pictures, vases or your grandmother’s antiquechest. You’ll be surprised with what you may find.
Accent on accessories: Fancy towels aren’t just foryour guests’ bathroom - treat yourself to new towels inthe master bathroom and quickly transform it into anupdated and inviting space. For your living spaces,changing couch covers seasonally will keep your dÈcorfresh and make it look like you purchased new furniture.
Try brown microfiber for fall, white linen for summerand sage green in the spring.
Bring the outdoors in: Take a hint from nature and getinspired by the seasons and the beautiful hues outside.Once you’ve decided on one or two colors, buy pillows,lampshades and other accessories to place throughoutyour bedroom. Experiment with patterns, warm colorssuch as red and orange, or calm hues such as moss greenand sage. Branches and flowers are inexpensive and canalso add instant charm to any living area.
Soak up the sun: When landscaping, buy smaller andyounger plants that need time to grow. They’ll be readyin a couple of years when you’re ready to sell yourhouse. Fresh cedar mulch or rock landscaping are othergreat ways to improve curb appeal - they’re inexpensiveand will really make your yard pop.
Priceless Kitchen Project
An updated kitchen can add thousands of dollars ofvalue to your home and create a welcoming space toentertain guests - and you can accomplish it withoutspending a lot of time and money. With a few coats ofpaint and stylish accessories, your kitchen can become a
Amy Matthews
See KITCHEN page 5B____
PAGE 2B, THURS., SEPTEMBER 17, 2009
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FALL
HOME
IMPROVEMENT
Refresh Your Nest
Affordable ways to liven up your home
Smaller desks pack big benefits. Origins laptopdesk by aspenhome.
Family Features (SPECIAL) - As the saying goes,there’s no place like home. And these days people are look-ing for ways to make their home a more enjoyable livingspace.
“Rather than flipping homes, like people did when thehousing market was strong, we’re seeing more and morefamilies embracing what they already have,” says BobMaricich, president and CEO of World Market Center LasVegas. “The idea of refreshing one’s environment, even inthe smallest ways, can have a restorative power and trans-form a house to a home.”
Home furnishing experts say that it’s important to rec-ognize that it’s the littlest things that matter when you’remaking enhancements to your home. Simple touches of anew sofa or end table, rug or even a decorative lamp shadewill create a different look and feel to a room or space. Thisis a small lifestyle change, and not an unobtainable luxury.
Timeless TrendsNancy Robinson and Julie M. Smith, of Nine Muses
Media, have put together some timeless trends that willhelp you visualize and explore the possibilities for updatingyour home.
Calm YourselfLiving with a neutral interior palette is like being
enveloped by a cloud. Get the look by blanketing rooms inthe softest neutral shades: cream, mocha and, most espe-cially (and perhaps surprisingly), gray. “A dash of a neutralmetallic accent, such as silver, adds a welcome sparkle,”
said Robinson. “It’s like sunlight peeking through theclouds.”
Distressed to ImpressModern Country is ageless and exudes a comforting
charm that takes imperfection to new heights. Natural fin-ishes, heavily distressed surfaces, reclaimed woods, rattan,wicker and other natural textures are livable finishes forbusy families. And the look fits farmhouse style or urbanloft with equal ease.
Ethnic InspirationFar-reaching global influences are no longer far flung.
Ethnic-inspired fabrics are turning up all over in Americanhomes. “The organic patterns, vibrant color palettes andhandcrafted looks create an aura of sophisticated warmth,”said Smith. What to look for: motifs inspired by traditionalAfrican design; susani patterns from Central Asia; ikats andbatiks from Indonesia; and handblocked woodprints fromIndia.
Power PlayA smaller footprint, lighter weight and better perfor-
mance are important purchase considerations when buyinga new laptop. The same things matter when buying home
office furniture. In fact, Robinson and Smith note that aslaptops have become the most popular home computingchoice among consumers, so, too, have writing tables andpetite desks moved to the fore. Unlike their executive suitepredecessors, these modestly scaled workstations don’t takeup an entire room. Instead, they slip easily into most interi-ors, providing needed workspace without taking up toomuch space - or too much money.
Seeing Black and WhiteThe go-to item in your closet may be the little black (or
white, depending on season) dress. In home furnishings, it’sthe combination of the two that offers the most impact. It’stwice the look in one great product, and it never goes out ofstyle. Smith and Robinson say to consider making a state-ment with a black and white combo in bedding ensembles,window treatments, wallpaper or upholstery fabric.
Accents work well in this contemporary setting.
Refreshing your nest doesn’t have to beout of reach. With a few simple changesit’s possible to fall in love with your homeall over again.
THURS., SEPTEMBER 17, 2009 PAGE 3BDYSART REPORTER NORTHERN SUN-PRINT REINBECK COURIER TAMA NEWS-HERALD TRAER STAR-CLIPPER
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FALL
HOME
IMPROVEMENT
Room makeovers that won’t break the budget(Family Features) So you have a room that
needs updating, but you don’t have a lot of time ormoney? Not a problem. These quick-fix ideas willspruce up a room in no time without emptying yourwallet.
Living Room•One of the easiest - and cheapest - ways to
change up a room is to rearrange the furniture.Take everything out and start over with a cleanslate. And don’t be afraid to poach items fromother rooms - the mirror in the hall just might lookperfect behind the sofa now.
•Don’t forget the floors. If you have woodfloors, put the shine back into them with woodcleaner. If you have carpet, add a colorful area rugon top for a splash of color and to help define anarea.
•Go green - with plants. Whether it’s a singlepalm leaf in a vase or a pretty silk tree, greeneryadds a lot to a room. For the best effect, groupplants of varying heights, fullness and color togeth-er.
Bathroom•If you like old fashioned tin ceilings, try ceil-
ing tile paintable wallpaper. It’s textured wallpaper
that looks like embossed white plaster, and youcan paint it any color you want. Put it up under achair rail to make a unique wainscoting in a week-end.
•For artwork, frame color copies of prints outof books, magazines or catalogs. If it’s a kids’bathroom, frame some of their art.
•A few fresh hand towels and a new toilet seatwill freshen things up, as well.
Bedroom•A new duvet cover or comforter and matching
shams will instantly change the look of your bed-room. Reversible covers give you even moredesign bang for your buck.
•Paint an accent wall to bring a new color intothe room. If your other walls are neutral, go with abolder color on the accent wall. If the other wallsare a strong color, pick out a neutral tone.
•Fabric remnants are an inexpensive and easy
way to dress up your room. Recover pillows or adda colorful band to your drapes. At about one-thirdof the regular fabric price, they’re a bargain.
Kitchen•Replace cabinet hardware with decorative
pulls and handles. It’s an easy way to add person-ality to ordinary cabinetry. New switch plates areanother affordable change that can make a differ-ence.
•Dress up your windows with a new valance. Afresh color will perk things up in no time. If youhave solid curtains or sheers, try a patternedvalance. If the curtains are print, compliment themwith a solid valance.
•Add a new throw rug and a few fresh kitchentowels and you’ve got a brand new look for next tonothing.
Some creative thinking and a little elbowgrease is all it takes to make a room feel like new.
ABOVE-The furniture
has been placed dif-ferently. With somethought, you cancreate essentially awhole differentroom.
Work like thiscosts nothing andprovides makeoversyou will reallyenjoy.
Little house, big perksBy Tresa Erickson
You’ve always lived in asmall home and loved it. With farless house and yard to care for,you’ve had more time to devoteto other interests. Now thatyou’re adding to your family,however, you’re not sure if youcan continue to enjoy the perksof small home living. Relax.Unless your family is growingsubstantially larger, you canremain where you are and makea few changes to maximize yourhome’s potential.
Storage can be a problem inany size of home. If your smallhome lacks storage space, con-sider creating some built-ins.Built-in bookshelves, cabinetsand seating make wonderfuladditions to any home. You justneed to place them in the bestarea possible and be careful notto take up too much floor space.
In a home lacking in squarefootage, multipurpose is thename of the game. Make sureyour rooms serve more than onepurpose. Tuck a desk in the cor-ner of your dining room and usethe space to eat and work in.Slide your upright piano intoyour entryway and use the spaceas a foyer and a music room.Add a bench to your second floorlanding and use the space forreading.
The same principle applies toyour furniture choices. Don’tbring a piece into your homeunless it can serve more than onepurpose. Consider a sleeper sofafor your living room. You can siton it during the day and use it forguests at night. Select a comfort-able chair for your desk. You cansit in it and work at your deskand slide it into the living roomwhen needed for extra seating.Switch out your coffee table foran ottoman. You can use it as afootrest when watching TV andas extra seating when companycomes over.
Select smaller equipment andaccessories. Trade out your bulkyTV and computer monitor forflat-screen models. Use hangingbedside lamps rather than largetableside lamps. Choose smallerappliances for your kitchen. Youwill be amazed at how muchmore room you have just byusing smaller items.
Light up the rooms in yourhome and make them appearlarger. Use a variety of lightingsources at various heights aroundeach room. Throw open thedrapes during the day and let thenatural light in. Bring in somemirrors to reflect light aroundeach room.
Keep your color palette light.Dark colors tend to close in thespace, while lighter colors keep itbright and airy. Reserve darker,bolder colors for accents to adddrama and depth.
Add to your square footagewith an outdoor space. Power-wash that old patio, add somenew furniture and plants, andpresto, you have extended yourliving area outdoors. Throw openthe French doors during partiesand give guests plenty of room tomingle.
If you long to stay where youare, don’t let the thought of alarger family prevent you fromdoing so. Make adjustments asneeded and make your homework for you.
Harder than granite: porcelain tileBy Tresa Erickson
You’re in the middle ofremodeling your entryway.Gone are the crusty old wall-paper, tarnished brass lightfixtures and soiled carpet. Intheir place are a warm shapeof taupe, classic rubbedbronze fixtures, and...well,you haven’t quite got to theflooring yet. You’re leaningtoward tile, and your friendshave suggested you go withporcelain tile.
Unlike most other types ofceramic tile which are madeof red or white clay fired in akiln, porcelain tile is com-posed of special porcelainclays and minerals, including
feldspar, and fired in a kiln ata higher pressure, making itexceptionally hard-30% hard-er than granite to be exact. Itis denser than other products,frost-proof and highly stain-,scratch- and water-resistant.Some lines are even slip-resis-tant.
Virtually indestructible,porcelain tile can be usedalmost anywhere-low- andhigh-traffic areas indoors andout. It comes in a variety ofstyles and colors. In fact, thecolor of porcelain tiles goesall the way through, unlike thecolor of traditional tile whichis baked on. Porcelain tilecomes in three basic finishes:matte, unglazed and high-pol-
ished. Unglazed porcelain tileswork best for outdoor applica-tions and require sealing.
PAGE 4B, THURS., SEPTEMBER 17, 2009
DYSART REPORTER NORTHERN SUN-PRINT REINBECK COURIER TAMA NEWS-HERALD TRAER STAR-CLIPPER
SERVING YOUR•Plumbing •Electrical
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Full Line Lumberyard• Hardware, Plumbing, Electrical & Paint
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We can even help you find a contractor!Call Mike Wilkerson at 319-476-2000or email: [email protected]
STORE HOURS: M-F 7AM-5PM • SAT 8AM - NOON • CLOSED SUNDAYS
FALL
HOME
IMPROVEMENT
(Family Features) (SPECIAL) - It costs over$160 billion a year to heat, cool, light and live inour homes. According to the Department of Ener-gy (DOE), homes account for 21 percent of thecountry’s energy use each year, and contributeabout 17 percent of greenhouse gas emissions.
Homes are more energy efficient than theyused to be, but there are many ways to improveenergy use and lower utility costs. The DOE esti-mates that many people could save 20 to 30 per-cent on household energy bills by making somecost-efficient improvements.
Heating and CoolingAbout 46 percent of your utility bill is for heat-
ing and cooling. These home systems also emit150 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmos-phere each year. The easiest thing you can do is tomake sure your systems are properly maintained.
Other ways to save:•Install a programmable thermostat - it lets you
adjust temperatures automatically according toyour schedule. You can save around 10 percent ayear on heating and cooling bills by simply turn-ing the thermostat back 10 - 15 degrees for eighthours.
•Clean or replace furnace filters once a monthor as needed.
•Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters,and radiators; make sure they’re not blocked byfurniture, carpeting, or drapes.
•Avoid setting the thermostat at a colder settingthan normal when you turn on the air conditioner.
It will not cool your home any faster.•During cold months, keep draperies and
shades on south-facing windows open duringthe day to allow the sunlight to enter, andclosed at night to reduce the chill.
•During warm months, keep the windowcoverings closed during the day.
Consider energy-efficient upgrades, aswell. If your heat pump or air conditioner ismore than 10 years old, or your furnace ismore than 15 years old, they may need to bereplaced. It can save up to 20 percent on heat-ing and cooling costs.
InsulationInsulating your water heater tank and water
pipes prevents heat loss. Insulate heating ductsin unheated areas, such as attics and crawl-spaces, too. Keeping ducts in good repair canprevent heat loss of up to 60 percent at the reg-isters.
WindowsThe average home loses more than 25 per-
cent of its heat through windows. Installingstorm windows can reduce heat loss between25 and 50 percent. Energy-efficient windowsand window coatings save even more energy.
Leaks- Seal air leaks around utility cut-throughs for pipes, gaps around chimneys andrecessed lights in insulated ceilings, and unfin-ished spaces behind cupboards and closets.
Add caulk or weather stripping to seal airleaks around doors and windows.
Save energy - And money
-Federal tax credits-
Federal tax credits are now available for someof these home improvements.
•10 percent of the cost of insulation, stormdoors, and Energy Star-qualified “cool roofs,”up to $500
•10 percent of the cost of exterior windowsand skylights, up to $200
•up to $300 on new high-efficiency air condi-tioners, heat pumps, water heaters, and corn-fueled stoves
•up to $150 on high-efficiency furnaces andboilers
These tax credits expire at the end of 2009.
By Tresa Erickson
Live in an older home withmetal shutters that have seenbetter days? Want to replacethe shutters but not sure youcan find new ones in the samesize? Before you go to all ofthe expense of having customshutters made, why notremove the shutters andrepaint them. You just mightbe able to reuse them.
Repainting metal shutterswill take some work. Here arethe supplies you will need:
• Screwdriver• Fine-grit sandpaper• Scrub brush and sponge• Bucket of soapy water• Garden hose• Spray primer• Spray paint or paint
designed for metal in the colorof your choice
• PaintbrushesFirst, remove the shutters
from your house. If you arelucky, the shutters will bemounted to the wall withanchor screws and all you will
Refresh yourold shutters
See SHUTTERS, page 5_
THURS., SEPTEMBER 17, 2009 PAGE 5BDYSART REPORTER NORTHERN SUN-PRINT REINBECK COURIER TAMA NEWS-HERALD TRAER STAR-CLIPPER
YOU’LL LOVE OUR FLOORSVINYL • TILE • HARDWOOD • NATURAL STONE
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We discount our merchandise so you can save. Choosefrom name-brand flooring in many styles and colors athalf the price you’d pay in many other stores.
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Kitchen, continued from page 1__________________________________showpiece.
Tired-looking cabinets?Breathe new life into yourkitchen by updating yourcabinets for a fraction of thecost of new cabinets.
Tools you’ll need :
-Paint roller and/or brush -Painter’s tape for ease of
painting-Screwdriver for remov-
ing c a b i n e tdoors and drawer and cabinet hardware
-Primer -Paint
Quick tips: -When select ing your
paint color, keep in mindthat a light color will make aroom look brighter and moreopen, while dark colors canhelp old-fashioned cabinetslook more modern.
-High-gloss paint is oftenrecommended for cabinets;however semi-gloss adds arich finish.
-When applying paint tocabinets, use a quality brush- the better the brush, thebetter the finish.
-Begin paint ing at thecenter of the cabinets andfollow the grain.
Steps
1. Before getting started,wipe down cabinets with atack cloth to remove dust.Sand any rough areas andremove sawdust from thearea.
2. Tape walls around cabi-nets and the backsplash.
3. Remove cabinet doorsand handles.
4 . Tape cabinet innershelves and s ides . Applyprimer coat. Note: Using atinted primer saves at leastone coat of paint, so you canbuy fewer cans.
5. Apply two coats ofpaint . Allow t ime to dry(approximately 4 hours).
6. Remove tape. 7. Remove door hinges. 8. Prime and paint doors.
Note: Use a brush instead ofa roller to apply primer andpaint to uneven cabinet sur-faces.
9. Tape fully cured cabi-nets and trim.
10. Paint wall base coat.Allow to dry. Carefully pulltape.
11. Reassemble cabinets
Painter’s tape makes the work easier.
FALL
HOME
IMPROVEMENT
need to do this is a screw-driver.
Next, hand-sand the shut-ters with fine-grit sandpaperto remove all loose paint. Becareful not to scratch toohard, or you could damagethe surface. When you arefinishing sanding, washdown the shutters to removeall of the sanding residue and
dirt. Spray down the shutterswith a garden hose and letthem dry.
Once the shutters are dry,you are ready to paint them.Start with a coat of sprayprimer. Read and follow themanufacturer’s directionsand apply the paint six toeight inches away to preventdrips. Use horizontal as well
as vertical strokes for evencoverage. Let the shuttersdry completely before apply-ing the topcoat.
If spray-painting the shut-ters, follow the procedureabove, being careful not tocreate drips. If using tradi-tional paint, apply the paintin long, even strokes, againbeing careful not to create
drips. Let the paint dry andapply a second coat if need-ed. You may also use a paintsprayer to apply the paint. Ifyou go this route, read andfollow the manufacturer’sdirections for the equipmentand wear the appropriate pro-tection.
Give the shutters a fewdays to dry before puttingthem back on the house. Becareful not to scratch thepaint as you install the shut-ters.
That’s all there is to it! Injust a few simple steps, youcan repaint your metal shut-ters and save yourself somemoney in replacement costs.
Shutters, continued from page 4_________________________________________________________
By Tresa Erickson
You have a lot of exposed brick in your home. Youlove the character it brings to your space, but recently,you noticed that one of the bricks has a huge crack in itand is starting to crumble. You really need to take careof the matter before it gets worse. If you are handy, youmay be able to chip out the brick yourself and replace it.
To chip out the brick, you will need a power drill, a6mm masonry bit, a hammer and a cold chisel. Drillseveral holes in the brick and mortar surrounding it.Then using the chisel and the hammer, chip out the mor-tar surrounding the brick. Use the end of your chisel toremove all of the pieces and chip out any remainingmortar.
If you haven’t purchased a replacement brickalready, take a piece of the old brick to a masonry sup-ply center and purchase a new brick to match. With anyluck, the center will have an exact match. If not, youwill have to get as close of a match as possible.
To install the new brick, you will need a spray bottleof water, some mortar, a pointing trowel and a jointer.First, spray down the opening where the brick will go.Then mix up some mortar and spread a 3/4-inch layeron the bottom and sides of the opening with a pointingtrowel. Butter the top of the brick with a 3/4-inch layerof mortar.
Place the brick on the back of a trowel and slide itinto the opening, making sure the brick is flush with thesurface. If needed, you may tap the brick into place withthe handle of the trowel. The mortar should squeeze outfrom around the brick. If it doesn’t, you will need totake the brick out and add more mortar.
When the brick is in place, use the edge of the trowelto scrape away the excess mortar. Then strike andsmooth the joints. Press down the mortar to ensure awatertight seal. Scrape off any excess mortar and wipe itfrom the face of the brick with a clean cloth. Give themortar time to cure, making sure you keep it damp forthree days.
Replacing a brick takes a little effort and some time.Make sure you are ready to do what it takes. If you’renot comfortable replacing the brick yourself, you maywant to hire a professional to do it for you.
Brick cracked? No problem.
