Ultimate Home Guide Spring 2012

The Ultimate Home Guide

2 • Ultimate Home GUide 2012

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General Manager Lynn Lloyd Editor Gerry O’Brien Advertising Manager Patti Arntson

Graphic Design Missy Robertson Corey Gransbery Matt Jozovich Robert Walsh Erica Yakawich

Advertising Sales Karen Corbin Dee Scalabrin Nonie Swan Kim LaBreche Kacie Briney

Advertising Assistant Kristen Lloyd

5 2012 Outdoor Living Trends

6 Trend Watch

7 Go Green With Real Wood

8 5 Easy Spring Cleaning Tips

10 Healthy Hardwood Flooring

11 Is It Time To Add A Half Bathroom

12 Eclectic Designs Breathe New Life Into Your Room

14 How To Prevent Lawn Damage

16 Home Decor

18 Designing Your Home Office

19 Hottest Colors For Your Home

21 How To Hide The TV Bridal Guide is published by The Montana Standard25 W. Granite • Butte, MT 59701 • 406-496-5500

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More homeowners want their outdoor space to truly be an extension of their house and are taking steps to create an inviting area to relax, play and host guests. If you want to update your deck or patio for warm weather entertaining, you don’t have to spend a lot of time or money. You can easily refresh the items you already have and add new stylish elements by keeping some top trends and design ideas in mind.

Consider these tips from the design experts at Lowe’s to help transform your space into a welcoming outdoor oasis. With just a few easy outdoor home im-provement changes, you’ll have the best patio on the block.

Mix functional furnitureThe line between indoor and outdoor design is blurring. You can coordinate the style of adjacent indoor and outdoor rooms, since you and your guests will likely spend time in both. No matter if you have a large outdoor deck or a simple small patio, many affordable, stylish out-door furniture options are available from allen + roth. Set up furniture with flow in mind, grouping pieces together to encourage comfort, conversation and a view of nature.

Add colorful accessoriesIncorporating rugs, outdoor pillows, candles and other accessories in vivid colors or fun patterns can really make your outdoor space come alive. Pick three to four colors for your scheme and stick with those colors throughout your design choices. Some of the season’s top hues include rich reds, vivid blues, soothing neutrals and garden-inspired greens. Metal accents are popular as well, so look for decor with gold or silver detailing for a design that’s modern with a tropical flare.

Incorporate a fire pitAn outdoor bonfire likely evokes pleas-ant memories of the past, so incorporate a fire pit into your patio space so your whole family can enjoy time together roasting marshmallows, telling stories and gazing at the stars. Today’s modern fire pits are both stylish and useful, add-ing a cozy ambiance while warding off

the chill on cooler nights. Plus when the seasons do change and fall brings with it lower temperatures, you can still enjoy the beautiful outdoor space you’ve cre-ated because you’ll be comfortably warm. Remember to look for options that have a removable screen, so you can open when needed for cooking and then close to keep the fire safely contained.

Create privacyJust because you’re outdoors doesn’t mean that you don’t want a bit of privacy from neighbors or passersby. The good news is it’s easy to create boundaries to your space by using a pergola or outdoor curtains. These options tie in nicely with other outdoor design trends and can give just the right amount of privacy, creating your own outdoor “room” in which to enjoy the long, sunny days.

Light the nightLighting can really make your outdoor space come alive once the sun goes down. Add depth and intrigue by “light-scaping” from different sources. Consider putting up string lights that provide a magical setting that is sure to dazzle guests long after darkness falls. Add an intimate wall lantern next to the patio door or eco-friendly LED garden and path lights to add a soft illumination to outdoor space.

Grow an herb gardenThere’s nothing that adds the flavors of summer to food like fresh herbs. One of today’s top trends is to have a container garden so you always have your favorite herbs on hand to freshly pick. Popular herbs that are easy to grow include basil, chives, cilantro, dill, fennel and mint. When planting, use containers that complement your outdoor design. Vintage styles that feature aged patinas are very popular this year.

To organize your ideas and keep track of outdoor projects, create a MyLowe’s pro-file at www.lowes.com/MyLowes. Develop and store your wish list in MyLowe’s to help transform your drab deck into a styl-ish patio that just begs for you to kick up your feet, enjoy a cold drink and converse with family and friends.

2012 Outdoor Living TrendsCan Easily Update Your Patio Or Deck

General Manager Lynn Lloyd Editor Gerry O’Brien Advertising Manager Patti Arntson

Graphic Design Missy Robertson Corey Gransbery Matt Jozovich Robert Walsh Erica Yakawich

Advertising Sales Karen Corbin Dee Scalabrin Nonie Swan Kim LaBreche Kacie Briney

Advertising Assistant Kristen Lloyd


TREND WATCHIf you want your home to reflect your per-sonal style, why not start in the kitchen? The kitchen, commonly the most popular room in the house for everyday life and entertain-ing, doesn’t have to be cookie cutter with coordinating color schemes. Current trends give homeowners leeway to add personal flair to the kitchen with bursts of color, unique designs and unexpected patterns.

Walls painted in neutral hues, and appliances and fixtures in monochromatic finishes, create a nice “blank canvas” that you can dress up with bold accessories or patterned fabrics. Delta Faucet recently launched an Arctic Stainless finish on its Trinsic faucet, which features cool blue undertones, that coordinates well with new stainless steel appliances.

If you want to kick up your kitchen decor another notch, explore your color options. Colorful kitchen products and appliances abound. Mixers, blenders, teapots and even faucets are available in a variety of colors, such as blue, red, pink or yellow and can

add an unexpected pop to your space. The Delta Faucet Fuse kitchen collection features a split finish pull-down faucet, which is avail-able in a stainless finish with fun options like cracked pepper, chili pepper or snowflake white finish accents.

“Color blocking is something that is trending in both fashion and interior design,” says Judd Lord, Delta Faucet Company director of industrial design. “People want to express themselves through home decor just like they do with their own style.”

If you want to stay on top of current trends, then try experimenting with the 2012 Pantone color of the year - Tangerine Tango. Radiating warmth and energy, the bright hue can energize a room. Incorporate the color on a small scale with table linens or go bold and paint one of the walls to add dimension.

You can also spice things up by creating a more eclectic look. One way to do this is by mixing and matching cabinetry hardware designs. There are many different styles,

sizes, colors and materials, making it easy create your own custom space. Or switch up your kitchen table and chairs, using differ-ent styles instead of a matching set. Try an antique table with chairs that are structured and modern or upholstered with a variety of bold patterns. Add in a bench on one side to make it even more unexpected.

For more of a subtle, eclectic look, combine a variety of dinnerware pieces that hang together with one consistent thread, such as bold color or an unexpected pattern. The best part is you don’t have to stress if you break a plate, can’t find the exact piece to match the collection, or have more guests than matching dinner sets.

Customize your kitchen space by adding a hint of color or playing around with mixing and matching wherever you feel comfort-able. You’re going to spend a lot of time in your kitchen, so have fun with it and make it your own.

Color and customization trends for your kitchen


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So many decking materials in stores today ... which one to choose? If a beautiful, usable, long-lasting deck is your goal -- and you’d like to do your part to protect the environ-ment -- then the choice is obvious: real, natural, authentic wood.Wood has been a part of outdoor living for centuries: the first pine sawmill was at Jame-stown about 400 years ago. Look around: so many historic homes and sites feature wood -- because it’s always been one of the best building products on the market. Wood is ever-present by the seashore (docks, marsh walkways, fishing piers, boardwalks), in the mountains (decks, arbors) and in backyards across the country (decks, gazebos, fences, trellises). Wood plays a starring role in high-traffic places, such as the Santa Monica Pier, the Destin boardwalk in Florida and the Ocean

City boardwalk in Maryland. Look all around you at the beauty of wood -- then bring that natural beauty home to your backyard.A recent Life Cycle Assessment (cradle-to-grave study comparing pressure-treated wood with alternative wood/plastic composite decking) found that wood was, by far, the better product for the environment. A few findings from this study:• Wood releases less greenhouse gases dur-ing production;• Wood uses 14 times less fossil fuel than wood/plastic composite decking; and• Wood decking production causes sig-nificantly less acid rain, smog and overall ecological impact than wood/plastic compos-ite decking.Additionally, pressure-treated wood comes from sustainable, well-managed forests --

meaning the industry plants more trees each year than are harvested. Fact is, U.S. forests are healthier and more numerous than they were 100 years ago. Pressure-treated wood is rot- and insect-resistant and readily available in both big-box stores and independent lumber dealers around the U.S. Current tested and approved preservatives are safe for use around children and pets --even veggies in your raised garden beds.For more information on using real wood in your backyard, the complete LCA study, free downloadable deck plans, inspirational pictures and easy DIY videos, please visit www.realoutdoorliving.com, on Facebook at “Wood” and on YouTube at www.youtube.com/wooditsreal.

Go Green with Real Wood


1. Let there be lightNothing makes the house feel drab like dirty windows. Make any room feel bright and fresh by cleaning the inside glass of your windows. A quick once over with a paper towel and glass cleaner should do the trick. Look for a “streak-free” formula and the insides will be sparkling in no time.

Get the outside just as clean - without the hard work - by using a cleaner that attaches directly to your garden hose. All you have to do is point and spray to remove the dirt and grime left behind from winter. It’s safe to use on plastic siding and can help you easily reach second story windows. Plus, while you’re outside, quickly rinse off patio furniture, jungle gyms or your children’s outdoor toys to make them look good as new.

2. Pick up a paint brushTo freshen up any room for springtime, pull out your paint. Don’t try to redo the whole house - pick the room where a fresh coat of paint will make the big-gest impact. Choose a fun new color, or add some flare with a unique design like stripes or chevron. And, don’t forget to touch up the trim if you have the time.

To make paint touch-ups a simple process, use FrogTape brand painter’s tape. Treated with patented PaintBlock technology, this tape prevents paint bleed by reacting with the water in latex paint to create a barrier that helps ensure clean, sharp lines. Plus, no tedious prepara-tion is needed - just make sure walls are

clean, dust-free and dry before applying.

“FrogTape is the best choice to help any homeowner paint with ease,” says designer and Restaurant: Impossible construction manager Tom Bury. “Its PaintBlock technology leaves very little room for error, making it a great choice for quick spring touch-ups.”

To ensure painting is a painless process, be sure to select the right tape for your surface. Choose FrogTape Multi-Surface for cured paint (paint that has been dry for at least three days), wood, metal, glass and more. Use FrogTape Delicate Surface on fresh paint (paint that has been dry for at least 24 hours), wallpaper, and decorative painting. With the right tools, your paint project can be quick and easy, making your room look polished and pulled together.

3. Wash away winter grimeYou know that soft, comfy throw blanket you’ve been snuggling up with all winter? It’s storing more than cozy memories. Since winter is prime cold and flu season, it’s probably become home to lots of germs. Increase the clean factor in your home by tossing throw blankets, pillows, window treatments, even couch covers in the washing machine to get rid of germs. Then, hang them outside to dry in the sun and soak up that springtime scent.

4. Say “sayonara” to your sweatersScarves, hats, gloves, wool sweaters and other heavy items of clothing won’t be much use to you once spring is in

full swing. Save room in your closets by getting them out of the way - put clothing items you won’t need in warm weather in plastic storage bins. Keep them in an attic or basement, clearing space for your warmer-weather wear. As you’re pack-ing things up, pull aside anything you haven’t worn all winter and donate these items to your local charity. It’s an easy way to de-clutter, make your home feel more organized and give back to your community. The same methodology goes for kitchen cabinets, desk drawers and playrooms. Store away items you’re not using and give what you don’t need to charity - if you’re not using it, someone else might.

5. Dust your digsSpring brings more than just sunshine - it’s also the bearer of seasonal allergies. Help fight the sniffles by shaking out rugs and giving rooms a good onceover with a feather duster. If wiping down the entire house seems too tedious, focus on areas that aren’t in plain sight. Throughout the year, you probably wipe down surfaces that are clearly visible - tables, shelves, countertops. But, when was the last time the top of the refrigerator or the ceiling fan saw a duster? Use spring cleaning as a chance to focus on those areas that don’t often get cleaned. Your home, and your nose, will thank you.

Follow these simple tips to make every moment count this spring. Your home will be sparkly and clean before you know it - giving you plenty of time to relax and soak up the sun.

Spring is here, which means one thing: it’s time to get your home in tip-top shape. By completing a few easy tasks, you can spend more time soaking up the sun and less time on interior projects. Here are five ways to spruce up your home this spring to prepare for a relaxing summer - and give your home that “spring cleaning” feel without spending the entire spring, well, cleaning.

‘Spring’cleaning tips5 easy


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Since most of an infant’s time is spent on the floor playing, crawling and discovering, more and more parents are now looking for floor-ing options that will minimize exposure to harmful allergens, germs and toxins.

Allergen and germ collecting flooring options like carpet are now being overlooked for more hypoallergenic options such as natural hard-wood flooring to diminish the risk of harmful exposure to their children. Discerning parents are now finding that there are even healthier options in hardwood flooring available that can help them take that extra step of precau-tion in protecting their child’s welfare. There’s a new hardwood floor so healthy and so eco-friendly that it actually was awarded the “Children and School certification” by

world-renowned standards organization Greenguard.

Canadian Manufacturer, Mercier Wood Floor-ing (www.mercierwoodflooring.com) has de-veloped the cleanest, least harmful and most eco-friendly flooring available anywhere. And now, after years of development, consumers, daycares and school boards can now benefit from this unique product never before intro-duced on the market.

Made using 100 percent pure soybean oil, the new Mercier Greenguard factory-finished flooring boasts zero VOC content (volatile organic compound), is hypoallergenic, antimicrobial and is the only flooring with the Greenguard School and Children certification

available in all species, colors and finishes“Making homes a healthier environment to live in is a goal we have long recognized and eco-friendliness has been the core value of our company since the beginning. We are proud of our new generation of flooring, Mercier’s Greenguard “School and Children” certified flooring,” said Michel Collin, Director of Marketing for Mercier Wood Flooring.With this new flooring option you don’t have to sacrifice great looking floors for health-consciousness as designer Nancy Soccio of Dolce Interieur in Montreal explains: “with Mercier’s Design + Program, you can create a natural wood floor that offers both a distinct character to your decor, as well as a healthy, eco-friendly choice for your entire family.”

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When it comes to renovating a home, hom-eowners expect to spend money. No home renovation or home improvement project is free, but some are less costly than others.The addition of a half-bathroom is a popular project among homeowners, and it won’t necessarily break the bank. If converting existing floor space into a half-bathroom, such a renovation can cost as little as a few thousand dollars, making the addition of a powder room one of the few home improve-ment projects where the value added to the home exceeds the cost of the renovation. Before deciding to add a half-bathroom, it helps to consider some of the pros and cons of the project.

Pros• Convenience: A half-bathroom is often added on the home’s main floor or in the basement or attic. This makes it more conve-nient for guests to use the restroom during a dinner party or when coming over to watch the big game in a basement home-theater area.• Problem-free: Half-bathrooms are smaller

because they don’t have a shower or bathtub. That means common bathroom problems like mold and mildew are not as big a concern as they are for full bathrooms.• More choices: Because mold and mildew aren’t likely to present a problem in a half-bathroom, homeowners have more options at their disposal when choosing floors and countertops.

Cons• Space: As their name implies, half-bath-rooms are much smaller than full bathrooms. As a result, they tend to feel cramped.• Value: Though an inexpensive half-bath-room addition might recoup its value and then some at resale, the project won’t add as much resale value to a home as a full bath-room addition might.• Loss of storage: If storage around the house is sparse, homeowners might be better off keeping the area designated for the half-bathroom as a storage closet instead of a bathroom.Once the pros and cons have been weighed, homeowners who want to go forward with the project should then check with their local municipality to ensure the codes and require-ments won’t restrict their project. Size or win-dow restrictions might curtail the project or limit what homeowners can do, which might

change their minds on the project altogether.The addition of a half-bathroom often makes practical and financial sense. But before mak-ing any addition, homeowners must weight the pros and cons to make the best decision possible.

Is it time

12 • Ultimate Home GUide 201212 • Ultimate Home GUide 2012

Eclectic

Set a good foundationEclectic style can include a variety of periods and styles and is connected through the use of color, texture, shape and finish. With such a bevy of decor options, an eclectic room can easily turn chaotic. That’s why Valencich recommends starting with a good foundation, the floors.

“I like to design a room from the ground up,” she says. “A new floor is a great place to start for a fresh look and feel; floors not only ground the room, but they provide the design founda-tion.”

“A good strategy when designing an eclectic room is to start with a neutral colored floor to help tie all the elements together,” says Valencich. “Grey toned floors are the latest design trend and they open up the possibilities for a wide range of decorating styles and color palettes.”

A neutral color floor isn’t “blah” or unattractive, adds Valencich. A floor like Quick-Step’s new Reclaime flooring in Heathered Oak serves as a pleasing canvas to create your eclectic room design, while also adding an attractive level of style and artistry to a room. This floor gives the same visuals and charm of a hardwood floor constructed from reclaimed, vintage wood which adds depth and personality to the room.

Another advantage to a neutral color floor is that as your room decor changes through the years, your floor will transition nicely.

“The great thing about spaces decorated in an eclectic style is they can easily be changed depending on mood, inspiration and budget,” she says. “That’s why it’s important to have flooring that is versatile enough to adapt to your changing style.

Design principlesAn eclectic room doesn’t have to be a hodge-podge or random assortment of items. “Have a planned and deliberate design,” says Valencich. “Eclectic rooms benefit from the same prin-ciples of design seen with other styles.”

• Balance. “Edit your collection to create harmony and focal points,” she says. “Practice moderation with your pieces.”

• Harmony and unity. “Group objects that work well together,” she adds. “For example, use different chairs around your dining table, but paint them the same color to unify the look.”

• Scale and proportion. “A mix of small, medium and large pieces helps balance out a room and keeps it from looking cluttered,” she says.

Valencich says to keep the design principles in mind while mixing unexpected pieces to create a gorgeous effect.

• Create a tidy grid of art to balance out weath-ered pieces and graphic patterns.• Use nature to help create your eclectic look. Airy flower arrangements atop a dark, antique table give a balance of dark and light colors.• Play with textures in your room. From an old frame with the paint peeling to nubby rugs to silky pillows, textures keep the room interest-ing and inviting.• Let your personality shine through with what you love. Do you have a collection of seashells or other trinkets? Use those pieces in an every-day nook.

“As you create your own eclectic look, remem-ber to be adventurous and a little daring,” says Valencich. “The most unexpected pairings can make the most refreshing looks.”

Eclectic

The newest interior design trends are invoking a playful vibe into rooms by mixing and matching different styles for an eclectic, fun look. According to “ELLE Decor,” home decorating is shifting toward a more theatrical and eclectic decorating style highlighting richer colors, layers of textures and patterns and a fusion of time periods, styles and atmosphere.

Homeowners who want to express their own unique style can blend a mix of traditional and contemporary elements, says Erinn Valencich, L.A.-based designer and blogger for HGTV’s Design Happens. Whether it’s neutral colors with a bold chair or a formal fireplace with art deco accessories, homeowners can create a space that is both comfortable and dynamic.

“Attractive eclecticism can help make your home space a truly accurate reflection of your individuality,” says Valencich. “Com-bining shapes, styles and colors makes a very original statement.”

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Many homeowners aspire toward a pristine and lush lawn. For some a nice lawn gives them feelings of pride. Others believe a perfect lawn enables them to have the best-looking house in the neighborhood. Many home-owners spend hours outdoors perfecting their lawns or spend a good deal of money hiring professionals to make their lawn more appealing. But just because a lawn looks good now doesn’t mean it will look good later. That’s because delicate grass can be damaged by a number of different factors.

GrubsGrubs are not very lawn-friendly. Grubs are actually the larval stage of dif-ferent types of large beetles. These worm-like creatures feed on the roots of grass and are able to kill large sections of the lawn in a relatively short amount of time. It can sometimes be difficult to discern whether grubs, drought or another other pest has damaged a lawn. One way to check is to grab a portion of the damaged lawn and attempt to peel it back. If it comes back easily like a piece of carpet, it’s likely grubs. Spotting grubs under-neath is a sure sign these larvae are killing the lawn.Using an insecticide for grub control in July can help kill off grubs that start hatching in August through September. Grub eggs do well in sunny patches of lawn that are well watered. More shade may deter them. There’s also the option of letting the lawn go dormant and not watering it, but you will be left with a brown, unappealing lawn.

Pet UrinePets can also damage a lawn. Pet urine can create burnt patches and significant discoloration on the lawn, particularly if the dog or cat uses one area consistently as their potty zone. The best way to prevent urine damage is to walk your dog so that he or she will not have free reign of the yard. However, sometimes dogs get out or stray cats and dogs visit your yard and relieve themselves without your knowledge. So this method is not foolproof. Therefore, you should take added action to maintain a lush lawn.First, make sure that soil and lawn is in good health by fertilizing and taking

How to preventLAWN DAMAGE


care of it properly. Second, water can dilute urine and neutralize its cor-rosive properties. Some have found that diluted urine can often act as a fertilizer to grass. You may have noticed that the outside ring of a urine-burned spot is often greener than the healthy lawn. Try to dilute the urine prior to 8 hours having elapsed for the best effect.

Burrowing animalsMoles and voles are among the more common lawn damage culprits. Voles are small rodents that resemble mice but have stouter bodies, shorter tails and rounder heads. They feast on everything from bulbs, succulent roots, ground cover, and even dead animals in their paths. Their burrows enable them to move around relatively undetected, typically until the damage has already been done.Moles, although they have a similar-sounding name, are not related to voles and look very different. They have a cylindrical body shape with velvety fur, very small or invisible ears and large paws for digging. Moles often feed on earthworms and other small invertebrates found in the soil. The burrows they create are essentially traps for the worms, who fall into the burrows, where moles easily access them. Moles often stockpile worms for later consumption in underground larders. Voles can be kept away with natural vole predators, such as cats, hawks, owls and snakes. Mouse traps can also capture voles when baited. You may also dig sharp materials or chicken wire into your soil around plant-ing beds to make it uncomfortable for voles and moles to tunnel through.Moles can also be controlled with traps. Finding active mole tunnels will help you place the traps effectively to either kill or simply contain the mole. The live animal can be relocated to a site where they won’t cause trouble.Lawn damage can occur through a number of different factors. Finding out the cause can help you find an effective treatment.


One of the hot new trends in hardwood flooring this season is the use of beautiful brown flooring colors to inspire home decors by bring-ing nature indoors. Touted as the “colors of tomorrow” by a leading Canadian hardwood flooring manufacturer, these new colors already have interior design professionals and enthusiasts buzzing.

Mercier Wood Flooring, one of North America’s leading hardwood flooring manufacturers, recently rounded out its Design + Program for hardwood floors with two trendsetting hues “Autumn Leaf” and “Kalahari” which they called the “colors of tomorrow” during their official launch.

“Mercier Wood Flooring is always on top of the latest trends and never more so than today with the launch of these new colors,” said designer Nancy Soccio of Dolce Interieur in Montreal. “My clients are always looking for these types of contemporary, yet nature inspired colours that work great in modern and classic decors.”

According to Michel Collin Marketing Director for Mercier they’re latest offering have already become favorites with clients. “A perfect blend of dark brown tones, Autumn Leaf is resolutely contemporary yet gives the impression that nature has really come into your home,” he added. “And because it respects the fundamental principles of global harmony, it will go well with any style.”

Kalahari, another popular hue from this year’s palette, features beauti-ful gold and cognac tones. Soccio liked the versatility of this color that can be used in any decor. “Delightfully paradoxical, Kalahari is both trendy and timeless,” she explained. “With its warm color it will brighten up any room. It’s ideal for both chic contemporary spaces and those that are more modern or country style.” These new colors are available in solid, engineered and LOC versions in varying widths. More information on the latest trends in wood flooring is available at www.mercierwoodflooring.com.

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today’s hardwood floor colours

trendsDECOR

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Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is a division of Wells FargoBank, N.A. © 2011 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rightsreserved. NMLSR ID 399801. AS694384 5/11-5/12

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There’s no doubt that we’re a connected society - and connected like never before through email, social networks, video conference technol-ogy, instant messaging, smart phones, the list goes on. While this influx in connectivity has made it easier to do business, it has also blurred the lines between work and home life, resulting with many of us working in our homes at least a few hours each week. If your kitchen countertop has become your go-to place for paying bills, responding to emails and conducting business, it may be time to consider adding a dedicated office space in your home.

Whether you telecommute for work or just need a work space to organize personal documents and files, a well-thought home office can help you stay productive, efficient and organized. Before beginning the design process for an office space, think through how the space will be used and ask yourself these questions:

• What activities will take place in the space?• Who will be utilizing this area?• What are the storage needs?* What time of day will you be doing most of your work?• Where in your home will you set up the office?• What type of connectivity/technology will be necessary for this space?

Once you have a handle on your needs, you’re ready to start the plan-ning and design process. Here are a few important things to consider when you’re setting up a home office:

Flexible and functional

A home office should be comfortable, but not too casual that it lacks structure and function at the expense of productivity. Whether you opt for a desk or a table, be sure to evaluate how much work surface is needed before you make the purchase. Consider how much space your computer and phone equipment, wires and cords, files and paperwork and office supplies will occupy. All of these things can quickly swallow space you might need to work comfortably. After you’ve selected the furniture, it’s wise to invest in a high-quality ergo-nomic chair that can help promote your overall well-being.

Orderly and organized

It’s easy to let a home office become overrun with paperwork, mail, bills, etc. Giving thought to smart storage solutions from the get-go will help minimize stress in the long run. The good news is you don’t have to settle for commercial-looking metal file cabinets to store everything. Cabinets have long been used to create stylish, orderly kitchens and baths, and can do the same for a home office. Quality-Cabinets offers a number of affordable cabinetry options that provide smart storage and have the ability to blend in with the decor of the rest of the home.

“Cabinets shouldn’t be limited to the kitchen and the bath,” says Sar-ah Reep, director of designer relations and education for QualityCabi-nets. “A cabinet has the ability to look and function like a high-end furniture-quality desk for the home office, at a fraction of the cost.”

Once you have an idea of your storage needs, check out some of QualityCabinets’ online design and planning resources at www.quali-tycabinets.com to get started.

Light and lively

Good lighting in a home office is essential. While overhead light is helpful, your desk and work spaces should also feature a few task lights for reading, writing and computer work. Adding a decorative table lamp can help maintain a homier feel. The amount and type of lighting really depends on when you’ll be doing the bulk of your work and can vary drastically throughout the day. Installing light dimmer switches and adding window treatments can keep light at optimum levels. Painting a splash of color on the walls, adding colorful textiles or artwork reflective of your personality will make the space feel lively and inspiring.

Designing Your Home Office


As you anticipate what exciting things this year will bring, you might notice your home decor has been left behind. Fortunately, you can easily beautify and modernize your home using hints from design experts on the hottest color trends. Don’t worry that you’ll need to break the bank - simply updating the shades of your walls can create the feel of an entire new home without the cost of buying one. And you’ll enjoy starting the year in fresh, contemporary sur-roundings.

“Our world has become increasingly complicated and fast-paced in recent years, to the point that many people are now taking steps back to re-evaluate their lifestyles and consider what’s truly important,” says Donna Schroeder, Dutch Boy Paints manager of Color + Design. “As we look back to simpler times, we also see how design and style have evolved. Dutch Boy’s 2012 color forecast is based on this reflection and the self-expression of what people find meaning-ful. This year’s diverse color trends are rich and full of history, helping people create spaces that truly show their inner selves.”

Featuring five groupings of the hottest colors in home decor, the Dutch Boy color forecast offers options for any room or personal taste. The 2012 trends palettes are as follows:

Ethereal. Whether it’s the search for enlightenment or just the best cup of organic coffee within 20 miles, the path is about more than the ground covered. The Ethereal collection floats above other color palettes, airy and atmospheric with tea-stained and faded hues evocative of the lightness of the sky under the midday sun. Light colors from this palette in-clude Epidermal, Faded Mint and Feather Lite.

Primitive. A meandering path through the forest takes us past colors only to be found in nature. Deep barks, shocking citrines and raw earth inspired the natu-ral colors of this palette. The Primitive colors are as mysterious as the shaded canopy of the woods that inspired them.

Suffused with energy, they speak to growth, regeneration and life. This natu-ral palette includes Raw Garnet, Symbi-otic Green and Indigenous Teal.

Fundamental. We’ve walked far away from the beige computer housings of the 1970s, only to find the hues from this budding technological era coming back full force. Retro office meets geek chic for a new take on ‘70s style, as seen in this grouping. The Fundamental color palette makes full use of classic, contrasting neutrals like beige and gray - designed to work as the perfect foil for bold main accents of green, orange and vibrant blue. Basic colors in the Funda-mental palette include Ink Blue, Aged Cognac and Rudimentary Beige.

Pastimes. It’s time for a road trip back in time to motels boasting refrigerated air, a gallon of gas that cost a dime and the game of miniature golf that was every family’s obsession. The Pastimes color palette is filled with exuberant shades reminiscent of lazy summer days at a lake house without a television, or the intensity of the circus coming to town. It’s American culture from the 1940s and ‘50s - a simpler time, an antidote to the fast-paced buzz and hum of modern technology. Bright Pastimes hues include Clown’s Nose, Kiddie Pool and Orange-sicle. Compose. A street of dreams with a fo-cus on soft femininity and vintage 1930s floral fashions are at the heart of the Compose color palette. Rich, dark hues are offset by bright pops of color that despite their origin in an earlier era, look fresh and new. This is a collection that worships the creative being in all of us, and encourages self-expression through home decorating. This inspired palette contains shades such as Purple Pencil Skirt, Lip Stain Pink and Theatrical Teal.

Choose any path to fit your home, whether it’s a light, shimmery mint from the Ethereal palette, or a natural natural green from the Primitive palette. Using these cues from the color professionals, you can ensure your home enters 2012 in style.

Hottest Colors For Your Home


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People have a love affair with their electronics, which play an integral role at households across the globe. Statistics from Nielsen’s Television Audience Report indicate that the average American house-hold has 2.86 television sets, despite having just 2.5 people. It is also estimated that those in the U.S. will have watched the equivalent of 9 years’ worth of TV by the age of 65. Canadians spend 1,500 hours each year watching TV, and 128,000 Canadians have a TV in the bathroom.

when it’s not in use

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Though TVs are located throughout the typical household, homeown-ers don’t always appreciate the look of a TV and how it fits in with their design scheme. That is why many seek ways to camouflage a television when it is not in use.There are many ways to mask a television when not in use. Homeown-ers can explore different options, depending on their particular budget and the available space.

• Furniture: Television armoires and cabinetry are some of the most basic ways to hide a TV. The unit is housed behind doors that are closed when the TV is not on and can be opened and recessed when it’s time to watch a show. These pieces of furniture can match other items in the room and create a flawless appeal.

• Cover up: Wall-hung flat screen televisions can be camouflaged with a piece of artwork or another wall decoration. Many times the TV is recessed into the wall, and the canvas or mirror is mounted on a device that can move it out of the way to reveal the screen.

• On the move: There are mechanisms that can lower or raise a TV from a hidden location, whether in the floor or ceiling. The TV can descend or ascend vertically, or a hinged device can flip the TV up or down, depending on need, much like a small LCD television that mounts on the underside of a kitchen cabinet.

• Under the bed: People have long embraced the under-the-bed storage options, but what about using that space for a TV? Homeown-ers who have $10,000 lying around can purchase a mounting device that stores the TV under the bed, and then raises it into position at the foot of the bed with the touch of a remote control.

• Track TV: With a system of trackwork, a television can swivel out of a hiding spot in a closet, cabinet or soffit and move into posi-tion on a pole connected to the track. Both manual and motorized tracks can be installed for a few hundred dollars.

• Canvas cover: A less expensive option than some of the motorized devices available, a shade or tapestry on a manual device (think the window shades that you tug and the shade rolls up onto itself) can also conceal a television. Lower or raise the shade as needed.

• Smaller scale: Smaller TVs are easier to camouflage. Think scale when placing a TV in a bedroom, bathroom or kitchen. Simple decor accessories may do the trick of hiding the TV from view.Although most people can’t get enough of their television viewing, the caveat is they don’t want the television to be an eyesore when not in use. Different concealment strategies can help mask a TV when it is not in use.


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Ultimate Home Guide Spring 2012