Fall 2020, 330 Homes

FALL 2020

BARN HOUSE RISES TO NEW HEIGHTS

CRYSTAL MADRILEJOS and ANDREW TOWNE'S BARN HOME photo by Tylar Sutton

STYLISH UPGRADES TO YOUR OFFICE

AN INVITE INTO AN UNBELIEVABLE PARTY SPOT

CHECK INTO A FIVE-STAR BED & BATH

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THE KELLY FOLDEN GROUP IS HOLDING THE KEYS TO YOUR NEXT MOVE

330-818-6683 KellyFoldenGroup.com

contents fall 2020 | volume 2 | issue 2

dream house

16

NATU R E ' S B E ST

26

PA ST U R E R AI S ED

44

I NVITE O N LY

space lift 10 DELUXE SUITE 12 FUNKY OFFICE

fresh design 22 WINDOW DRESSING 38 GUIDE TO WOOD FLOORS 54 STYLISH ART WALL

open air 34 OUTDOOR OASIS 48 KEEP TREES HEALTHY

smart tech 56 BOOST YOUR AIR QUALITY

FALL 2020

on the cover 26 | PASTURE RAISED | photo by Tylar Sutton

BARN HOUSE RISES TO NEW HEIGHTS

CRYSTAL MADRILEJOS and ANDREW TOWNE'S MEDINA BARN HOME photo by Tylar Sutton

STYLISH UPGRADES TO YOUR OFFICE

AN INVITE INTO AN UNBELIEVABLE PARTY SPOT

CHECK INTO A FIVE-STAR BED & BATH

welcome

by COLIN BAKER

A L L FOR ON E

We share in the work and fun of being a homeowner.

a supplement to Akron Life magazine Publisher COLIN BAKER

cbaker@bakermediagroup.com

I

t is the time of year when weekends are filled with leaves, hoodies and football.

No weekend in the fall is complete without the usual sound of leaf blowers on a Saturday morning. I have been lucky since I moved to my current home several years ago — we don’t get too many leaves.

My previous house and neighborhood could have been a test bed for the leaf blower industry. Trees would let go of their leaves in waves down the street.

It was interesting watching how each of my neighbors handled their leaves. A few doors down, my neighbor had massive leaf dumps from his and neighbors’ trees, and he would blow his leaves one or two times a day every day. He would get each leaf off the ground, and for one moment, everything looked perfect. Then, one by one, leaves would fall. Within hours, his yard would be covered again. Then back at it — more leaf blowing. He would also pick up the acorns that had fallen by hand. Sometimes, he would look out his window and head outside to pick up new acorns as soon as they fell.

Another family would let the leaves get 2 feet high in their yard and then go out one day with a small rake, spending all day getting it to the street.

I never really sweat about doing a perfect job, as it always seemed to be a losing

Creative Director WILLIAM L . TECKMYER III

battle. I could never get the timing right. Is it going to rain or snow? What day are they picking them up? One morning, I could hear the trucks in the street, so I raced out while it was still dark to get the leaves out. I thought I was crazy until I saw several others doing the same thing.

Being a homeowner is tough.

We all sometimes struggle with maintaining our properties and getting them to look how we want them to. 330 Homes is here to guide you with expert info on the practicalities of homeownership, such as caring for trees or replacing windows or floors. We also invite you in on the fun design portion with tours through stunning local homes. Take a peek at a funky home office, a cozy patio and a museum-worthy bathroom.

Plus, we see you do-it-yourselfers looking for quarantine crafts, so we have some easy decor projects to keep you busy.

Through the uncertainty, our homes have become our safe havens, and many of us are spending more time working on them, whether it’s satisfying the redecorating bug or tinkering with yardwork. We hope this issue gives you some tips on navigating homeownership, inspiration to make your space better fit you or an escape from it all by looking at glossy pictures. It’s your space, and 330 Homes is here to help you better enjoy it.

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33O HOMES fall 2020

wteckmyer@bakermediagroup.com Managing Editor K E L LY P E T RY S Z Y N

kpetr yszyn@bakermediagroup.com Assistant Editor ALEX ANDRA SOBCZAK

asobczak@bakermediagroup.com Graphic Designer T Y L A R S U T TO N

tsutton@bakermediagroup.com C o n t r i b u t i n g Wr i t e r LY N N E T H O M P S O N Photographer T Y L A R S U T TO N Sales B U N N Y L AC E Y STEVE T YSON BEN DICOLA B R E E YO U N G

sales@bakermediagroup.com Circulation

circulation@bakermediagroup.com 330-253-0056, ext. 104 Editorial Interns ZARIA JOHNSON M O L LY H E I D E M A N

fall 2020 | volume 2 | issue 2 33O HOMES is published by Baker Media Group, LLC, 1653 Merriman Road, Suite 116, Akron, OH 44313. Copyright 2020©

by Baker Media Group, LLC, All rights reserved.

Reproduction or use of editorial or pictorial content in any manner is prohibited without written permission. Unsolicited manuscripts will not be returned unless accompanied by an addressed envelope and sufficient postage. Baker Media Group, LLC and Akron Life accept no responsibility for unsolicited material. Subscription rates: Continental U.S., One year —$19.95, Two years —$34.95. Call for Alaska, Hawaii or international rates. Single issues available by calling the circulation department or visiting akronlife.com/store. $3.95 each plus $3.50 shipping & handling. Editorial, advertising and business offices: (330) 253-0056, fax (330) 253-5868.

Call 216-362-4660 IRU IUHH GHVLJQ FRQVXOWDWLRQ RU YLVLW XV RQOLQH DW FORVHWIDFWRU\ FRP

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330-

space lift

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fresh design

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open air

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smart tech

by LYNNE THOMPSON and photos by ADDISON JONES PHOTOGRAPHY

MASTER WORK

A bed and bath curate luxuries into a crown jewel suite.

T

he 9,000square-foot Peninsula residence is an art gallery of sorts —a showcase of black, white and charcoal with color injected by prints and original artworks.

Yet one of the most impressive spaces isn’t on display to visitors: the 775-squarefoot owners’ suite.

The homeowners, busy entrepreneurs, desired a private retreat endowed with the indulgences they enjoyed while traveling the West Coast for business and Europe for pleasure.

“They were going for a spa, resort-hotel feel but with the comfort of home,” says Laura Yeager Smith, whose Laura Yeager Smith Home & Design team did the project. “More high-contrast neutrals — that was their comfort zone. … They also liked a touch of modern glamour.”

Smith filled the couple’s room service order with

items that make checking into a suite at a five-star hotel seem like a downgrade.

enclosed shower contrasts with a floor of Carrara mosaic tile laid in a basket-weave pattern.

BEDROOM: White oak ceiling

BATHROOM CABINETRY: The

beams and floors serve as a rustic

quartz-topped, charcoal-stained,

foil for a bed frame upholstered in

custom poplar vanity stores every

a velvety silver fabric and a light

beauty product the lady of the

fixture’s glass cube surrounded by

house owns. Shelf pullouts hidden

prismatic metal. “Black and white

behind a cabinet door have mir-

alone can be a little boring and

rored makeup dividers. “The top

a little too modern,” Smith says.

drawer can house, I want to say,

“Adding warm neutrals and wood

30 lipsticks,” Smith says. There’s

tones help balance that.” The

also a perfume cabinet that’s as

mirrors over the ebony-painted

wide as an old-school enter-

bedside chests draw the eye up.

tainment armoire. “She has a

BATHTUB: The bathroom’s focal

collection of probably a hundred-

point is a black soaking tub — a striking variation, Smith says, in

plus bottles of various designers’ scents,” she says.

a world where tubs are usually

HER CLOSET: Rods on facing

white. “It has a bit of a feminine

sides are equipped with sliding

form, but yet it is all solid black,”

wooden ladders to facilitate floor-

she adds. “It’s not overly feminine

to-ceiling storage. Her costume

or masculine.”

jewelry collection lives in an

STEAM SHOWER: The feature is

island’s felt-lined compartmental-

both a personal steam room and a shower. “It is a touch of luxury at home that offers health benefits to combat the stress that comes with living a very busy life,” she says. Black marble tile arranged in a herringbone pattern on the rear wall of the otherwise glass-

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33O HOMES fall 2020

ized drawers. Daytime lighting is supplied by a picture window with an upholstered bench underneath it for slipping in and out of shoes.

“Her closet has all the bells and whistles,” Smith says.

33O HOMES fall 2020

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space lift

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fresh design

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open air

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smart tech

by LYNNE THOMPSON and photos provided by INTERIOR DESIGN STUDIO

I M PR ESS M E

An office makeover captures a homeowner’s personality and poise.

the

details

WA L L PA P E R : A Thibaut flowery print covers the wall opposite the door, making a bold first impression. “It’s a little funky, a little modern, but still a floral, which made it a bit more traditional,” Heinz says. The light green is repeated in SherwinWilliams’ Oyster Bay on the rest of the walls and the charcoal in SherwinWilliams’ Urbane Bronze on the back of the built-ins.

B U I LT- I N S : Contractors painted existing maple cabinetry white and replaced the fretwork with sleek white doors, which also cover the bookshelves

K

atie Heinz’s assignment was clear: Design a home office that elicits a “Wow!”

The president of Medinabased Interior Design Studio explains her Silver Lake client, who co-owns a marketing firm with her husband,

was working from home more and wanted to revamp her office that’s in a spare bedroom off of the foyer — a spot any visitor could see.

The space had to stun and blend with the rest of the 5,000-square-foot ranch, which has clean lines, neutrals and eclectic furniture.

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“She doesn’t share it with anybody — it’s all hers,” Heinz says. “She wanted to make it reflect her.”

Heinz explains how she achieved an impactful result by combining finishes and fabrics to create a decidedly feminine space.

33O HOMES fall 2020

above the black-granite countertop for extra storage. The crowning touch: a bank of seeded glass doors that adds more custom design flair.

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space lift

the

details

D E S K : The homeowner fell in love with the finish and scalloped curves of this centerpiece: a Bernhardt desk covered in taupe vinyl embossed to mimic the texture of shagreen. “It had that girly factor,” Heinz says.

“But then because of the shagreen finish, it was a bit funky. It combined that eclectic spirit.”

by Molly Heideman

C H A I R : Heinz pulled in

P OW E R STAT I ON

more of the wallpaper’s colors by ordering a seat with a gold-and-cream

Kitchen tables, ironing boards, upside-down trash cans — the pictures of makeshift work-from-home desks have been amusing. If you’ve been using an improvised workspace that you hide on Zoom calls, it might be time to get a desk, and it doesn’t have to be expensive.

Katy Boynar, the co-owner of the Makery in Norton, explains how to use a little do-it-yourself magic to upcycle a desk you’re excited to work at.

geometric-print exterior and gray-chenille interior.

“Both the built-ins and the desk are relatively solid,” she says. “That’s why we two-toned that chair.” that’s real wood, not like plywood or veneer,” she says.

Strip It: Once you’ve found your piece, sand the entirety to smooth it out. Boynar and her team prefer a twotoned look to let the beauty of the natural wood show through on top, with painted legs and frame. If the wood is in excellent shape, cover

Find It: Secondhand shops

the top of the desk with a

and online hubs often

clear polyurethane finish,

have quality desks that

but if there are blemishes,

need a little love. Boynar

play around with darker

recommends finding a

stains. “We might do a stain

wooden piece — you can tell

mixture and try to hide the

if it’s solid wood by feeling for

imperfections with different

the grain of the wood. “We’ll

Style It: She says

D E C O R : A cream shag

Scandinavian design is

rug on the maple floor

gaining popularity among

adds glamour. “Texture

her customers. Get the look

here was more important

by choosing paint colors

than the pattern because

such as navy blue, dark gray

we had such a major pat-

or white that pair nicely

tern on the wall,” Heinz

with fresh hardware like

says. The 1920s brass

gold knobs, brushed nickel

chandelier exemplifies

bars or even gemstone

the homeowner’s love

knobs. Finish it with three

of vintage. “She had

or four layers of varnish or

found it in an antique

polyurethane for protection.

store and loved it,” Heinz

“We like to use more of a

says. “We needed to

modern-day look with new

find a home for it.”

hardware on an old piece, so mixing new with old to bring it back,” Boynar says.

With a classic yet polished

stain colors,” Boynar says.

look, you can proudly

usually try to find something

reclaim your workspace.

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33O HOMES fall 2020

dream house

by KELLY PETRYSZYN photos provided by STOUFFER REALTY, THE KELLY FOLDEN GROUP and KNL CUSTOM HOMES

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33O HOMES fall 2020

NATURE'S BEST

A family is treated to artful custom flourishes when they

buy a model home.

A missed appointment led Tyler and Danielle Hysell on their path toward destiny.

They were meeting with their real estate agent, Kelly Folden, for a second look at a house that they thought was going to be the one when the other agent never showed. Kelly suggested they look at a home she and her husband, Todd Folden, president of KNL Custom Homes, lived in that doubled as a model home. The Hysells were amazed, and their minds

were quickly made up — the 5,400-square-foot home on a 2.4-acre wooded lot in Sharon Township was meant to be their forever home.

“There was attention to detail. A lot of the wood drew me in. The way it was finished — it looks like art,” Tyler says of the home they bought and then moved into earlier this year.

There are custom wooden flourishes at every turn — hickory, Brazilian walnut and cherry floors stained on-site, knotty alder trim

33O HOMES fall 2020

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with visible knots, built-in cabinets, dark crown moldings — marks of it formerly being a model home.

When you enter the foyer, a stately curved hickory staircase with intricate ironwork sets the tone for the fourbedroom, 5 1/2-bath home.

“We have a carpenter who has been with us over 20 years that does all the interior steps. It was handmade on-site,” Todd says. “We wanted it to be rustic but still have that formal richness to it.”

dream house

The dining room is distinct from the rest of the first floor with blue walls and white trim that offer a new canvas to highlight its elegant walnut floor, as well as a handcrafted built-in black hutch with seeded glass doors and a granite countertop. “[It’s] a bit of wow factor,” he says. A graceful crystal chandelier — similar to the ones that adorn other rooms throughout the house — caps a table a craftsman handmade from a liveedge slab of a 200-yearold black walnut tree.

Todd held no stops in the kitchen. He had a

metalsmith craft a copper hood over a Thermador oven that's displayed atop custom rich black corbels, which also dress up the edges of a nearby island.

“It gives it a little design flair,” he says.

The cabinets are knotty alder to flow with the rest of the home, and a second island has a limestone back to provide a contrast and tie into the Ohio limestone fireplace in the twostory great room.

That feature is arguably the most impressive

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custom addition, towering 23 feet and crowned with an olden barn beam used as a statement mantle — old square-head nails left in for an authentic touch. The eye travels to

33O HOMES fall 2020

the windows — 12 glass panels that were cleanly framed with hand-molded wooden trim, so the view of mature oak, walnut, beech and maple trees is invited in.

dream house

“The windows are big, open glass, no grids or anything,” Todd says. “The house, it’s in a development, but we tried to make it feel like it was on its own little parcel with no one around it.”

For the Hysells, those details create a transcendent experience. “It made it look like we’re on vacation in some type of mountain lodge,” Tyler says.

It’s fitting that the outdoorsy couple’s favorite spot is the patio with a stamped concrete floor and a stunning custom milled ash and hickory framed roof with skylights. It has a stacked stone fireplace, a ceiling fan, speakers and a TV, but it’s mostly a place to unwind and take in wildlife — white-tailed deer, raccoons, squirrels and even a neighborhood tomcat.

It brings Tyler back to childhood days spent playing in the woods amongst frogs and snakes in Ravenna and prompts him to look forward to making new memories with their 2-year-old son, Ayden. “I feel like this is a place that I can allow my son to go out and have the same experience,” he says.

Lately, he has been sitting out listening to the nearby tumbling water feature as their newborn, Lydia, sleeps in his arms. That ambiance is what sold them, and custom details reignite that every day, whether they are cozying up by the patio fireplace or gazing upon trees from the great room.

“It allows you to be a part of nature through the house,” Tyler says.

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33O HOMES fall 2020

BEFORE

CLOSER LOOK Todd Folden, presi-

room that Danielle and

dent of KNL Custom

Tyler Hysell now use

Homes, had fun plant-

as a toy room for their

ing Easter eggs in the

son, much to Danielle’s

home. One of those

satisfaction. “It’s great

is what appears to

for a growing family,”

be a bookcase in the

she says, “because we

second-floor hallway

shut the door, and it

but is really a secret

looks beautiful.”

passage to a hidden

33O HOMES fall 2020

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space lift

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fresh design

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open air

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smart tech

by ALEXANDRA SOBCZAK and photos provided by SHADES YOUR WAY

L OOK OU T

Window treatments can accomplish a lot for your home.

I

nstalling window treatments can do more for you than just look good. Energy efficiency, increased home value, noise cancellation, child safety and privacy — window treatments can help with all of these.

Since there are so many types and styles to choose from, the first thing you should do is decide whether you prefer fabric or hard material and whether you want the treatment permanently.

“When you envision yourself opening your window treatment, do

you envision tilting slats open or do you envision lifting it up … and then [closing it] in the evening?” says Chris Puff, co-owner of Shades Your Way Window Fashions in North Canton. Puff and Eric Albrecht, co-owner of Shades Your Way, share some expert advice on what else to consider when picking window treatments.

SHUTTERS If you’re looking to add

be either basswood or teak

value to your home, shut-

and is desirable if you’re

ters are best. “Plantation

willing to spend more, and

shutters are the only

composite wood is 96

window treatment that’s

percent wood and four

essentially guaranteed to

percent MDS fiber material.

add to the resale value,”

Light colors are popular

Albrecht says.

right now, so Puff says if you are seeking a refined

You have some options,

look, pure white, silk white,

as plantation shutters

pearl and gray fit nicely

can be made out of solid

with dining rooms and

wood, composite wood or

other formal areas.

plastic, which is similar to

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vinyl. The solid wood can

33O HOMES fall 2020

OUR DIFFERENCE WE LISTEN TO OUR CLIENTS. We listen to our clients to establish clear project vision, scope, and goals.

landscape architects + designers + contractors

WE SHAPE SPACE. We shape spaces and places that are in need of change, revitalization, and progress.

WE INSPIRE CHANGE. We inspire ourselves and others to keep pushing the bar within the design build industry.

1936 Georgetown Road Hudson. Oh 44236

330.650.4337

kgkdesigngroup@ gmail.com

@kgkdesigns #wedesigntobuild

@kgkgardening

@kgkgardening

fresh design

BLINDS

hues. Brightly colored roller

Since there are so many treatment

can make your house seem more

In more casual areas, such as

shades, such as reds, yellows,

options and combos, he recom-

welcoming. “On the houses that don’t have any treatments, they

kitchens and living rooms, blinds

blues and florals are used as

mends talking to a professional

are a good choice. Often you will

accents in sunrooms, porches

and telling them what you are

kind of feel cold,” Puff says. “They

see white or gray blinds, instead

and additions, Puff says.

trying to achieve. No matter what

can warm it up metaphorically,”

your goal is, window treatments

Albrecht adds.

of wood grain blinds that used to be the norm. “They’re primarily using extra-wide slats that are flat instead of smaller and curved like the metal blinds or PVC blinds you’ve seen in the past,” Albrecht says.

There’s a wide range of material to choose from, including woodwoven fabrics, decorative designer fabrics, faux wood, wood or linen,

OPEN A ND S HUT Thinking about replacing your windows?

Take these expert tips into consideration.

advises to take options home

Why: The main benefit to

and see how they look. “It’s so

replacing your windows

important to do that shopping in

is energy efficiency and

your house because so often when

possibly lower utility bills.

people try and look for fabrics

“There’s a lot of chance

and colors under the fluorescent

for air to escape a poorly

lights of a big-box store, they get

installed window,” says

Type: New windows,

finish carpenters with

it to their house and it looks com-

Ann Miller, the marketing

especially double-hung

30-plus years of carpentry

pletely different,” he says.

coordinator at Miller

windows, tend to be easier

experience as crew leaders.

Custom Exteriors.

to clean. Triple-pane

Other companies may

Another thing to keep in mind while choosing blinds is child

Longevity: The quality of

safety. “People used to not really

your windows and how

understand how much of a safety

much you care for them

hazard corded blinds are. Kids can

factor into when you need

get entangled in them,” Albrecht

new ones. “50-year-old

says. “The little box at the end of

windows can be OK,” Miller

the strings also are a choking haz-

says. “Maybe they were

ard for kids, too. So the cordless

reglazed. That’s where you

option is great.”

put new glass in.” Other

SHADES

windows offer less chance

use inexperienced labor or

of air escaping, more sound

subcontract crews. If they

insulation and more energy

can’t answer that question,

efficiency, but they are

it doesn’t matter how

often costlier than double-

technically superior the

pane, Miller says. Krypton

window might be.”

and argon gas are the main components in doubleand triple-pane windows.

Krypton gas is denser and

times, windows need replacing after 20 years.

When shopping for shades, con-

Unsure on how to assess the

sider the different kinds — hon-

quality? Consult an expert.

insulates better but is the most expensive, she says, adding that a good compromise is triple pane

eycomb, Roman and roller shades.

Honeycomb shades are one of the

Amount: Window

with argon gas. Despite

most commonly used treatments,

replacement can happen

what you choose, who you

and they can be sheer, light-

one at a time or all at once,

hire is crucial. “The window

filtering, semiopaque or room-

but the latter is often more

itself is not as important

darkening. The latter is great for

affordable. “The best way

as the installation,” Miller

sound sleep in bedrooms.

is to do as many as you can,

says. “The best question

as your budget will allow, at

to ask a window contractor

one time,” Miller says.

is: Who will be installing

Neutral colors, such as white and beige, are versatile picks because

my windows? We have

they will match even if you repaint a room. But don’t rule out bright 24

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33O HOMES fall 2020

Season: Windows can be replaced year-round, but fall and winter are great options to reap the rewards of energy efficiency, Miller says. Teams are experienced with different weather, so don’t worry about having a snowdrift pile up in your home if you choose winter installation. “[Our crew] will make sure to time things exactly,” she says. “A small window is very quick, maybe a couple minutes.”

photo by Provia

a popular choice now. Albrecht

dream house

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33O HOMES fall 2020

dream house

by LYNNE THOMPSON photos by TYLAR SUTTON

PASTURE RAISED

A young family creates a home in a historic barn.

C

rystal Madrilejos and The couple was ready to aban- just brand new. We wanted Andrew Towne had don the idea when Towne’s something that already had dreamed of building a home mother came up with an alter- some character.” on his parents’ 50-acre native: convert the property’s Akron builder and designer spread near Medina, a barn into a home.

Tim Franklin was enlisted to retreat in a quiet, secluded Towne, a lower-elementary transform the 1937 barn’s spot far from the road. The guide at Around the Sun concrete first floor and couple, high school sweetMontessori school, had 20-foot-high hayloft into hearts who reconnected after fond childhood memories of 3,200 square feet of living college in New York City, had climbing hay bales in it with space.

The hayloft boasted returned to their hometown his brother. And the spouses a floor laid on a diagonal in 2008 to marry and start liked the idea of renovating and intricate ceiling braces a family. After eight years of an old building. resembling those in a cathemarriage and two kids, they dral that Franklin calls inexhad outgrown the little farm- “We wanted something plicably ornate. house on the property they that was more unique — a rented from Towne’s parents. barn fits that,” explains “Someone purposely did Madrilejos, head of creative that roof structure to not But the dream was threatened strategy at Tenlo marketonly hold up the roof but by the hurdles of building ing agency.

“We didn’t also to aesthetically look from scratch in that location. want something that was good,” he says.

33O HOMES fall 2020

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dream house

In 2017, his team began the 14-month project by stripping it down and adding framing to support drywall, insulation and two-toned stained cedar siding, along with sub-roof, insulated roof panels and dimensional shingles. One of the greatest challenges was creating the hayloft windows, particularly on the gabled end designated as the living area. The feat required simultaneously removing old framing and adding new to keep the roof structure sound.

The hayloft floor’s trap door, once used for dropping hay to the animals housed below, was skillfully patched.

The hayloft’s oak floor was power-washed, handscrubbed five times and sealed with a honey-tinted clear coat.

The team then set out to bring to life the open, lightfilled floor plan Madrilejos and Towne envisioned: a living space fit for entertaining where guests could gather in intimate groups and still feel connected. Rather than emphasize the structure’s history with entirely rustic design elements, the couple sought to create a balance between old and new.

“Our style leans a bit more [toward a] Scandinavian Danish look where it’s natural materials, clean lines and good lighting in a peaceful space,” Madrilejos explains.

They chose to paint the walls white and install subtle hardware and light fixtures. “We wanted the house to be like a blank canvas,” she says.

A dark green butcher-blocktopped island visually separates the kitchen, with its stainless-steel appliances and soapstone-topped maple cabinetry. The couple furnished the living room with a light gray sectional and molded plywood coffee table and the dining area with a table surrounded by iconic wishbone chairs from Danish manufacturer Carl Hansen & Son. “Because the space is openconcept, you can’t hide much,” Madrilejos says.

“Everything has to work well together. So having something that was timeless and classic fits well.”

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The open spaces are augmented by eye-catching nooks and crannies where residents and guests alike can retreat. Franklin’s crew built a 200-square-foot loft over the kitchen to serve as a “ceiling” in which lighting could be installed.

The couple turned the space, accessed by a compact circular staircase, into a workout and TV area. Madrilejos raves about the views above, out the windows and down onto the living area. “You get to see the ceiling up close,” she adds. At the bottom of the circular staircase, Towne built bookshelves to create a cozy reading nook for his bookloving wife.

One of the most impressive architectural features is a split staircase with reclaimed-wood steps that rises from the front door to the living space — a feature

33O HOMES fall 2020

that visually invites visitors to come on up.

Two baths and the bedrooms for the pair, their 10-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter are relegated to the ground floor. Madrilejos describes these private spaces as small and simply finished — her family doesn’t spend a lot of time in them. The couple's bath, however, does have his-and-hers sinks that top a base Towne fashioned out of wood removed from the barn and a free-standing white acrylic soaking tub, as well as the requisite shower.

dream house

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The basketball-loving Towne added an unexpected blast from the past to the dining area: a Plexiglas version of the basketball hoop he and Madrilejos’ brother built in the barn as college students. He raises the metal lighting fixture using a pulley before he begins shooting foam balls. “We haven’t had anything break,” Madrilejos says.

Towne installed the hoop so he can easily remove it, ostensibly for formal entertaining, but Madrilejos admits they haven’t taken it down yet. “It’s sort of become a permanent fixture,” she laughs.

CLOSER LOOK One of the Crystal Madrilejos’ and Andrew Towne’s must-have features was a workspace that could accommodate everything from his woodworking to her drawing and painting projects.

Towne built one in a corner of the living area by topping Ikea cabinets with shelving he constructed out of sealed birch plywood and pieces of wood removed during the barn conversion. The spot has since taken on another purpose.

“I’m working from home because of the COVID situation,” Madrilejos says.

“Now that’s my desk.”

After years of living in a cramped New York City apartment and then a tiny farmhouse, they finally have enough room to comfortably host family gatherings both inside and outside.

Moving between both is seamless with doors in the dining area that open to an earthen bank, which was built to provide easy access to the side yard. There, the couple entertain and watch their kids play in the property’s fields, woods and two creeks.

“Andrew and I both love the outdoors,” says Madrilejos. “We find nature very soothing. Being able to walk directly out into a grassy area had the right feeling for us.”

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by KELLY PETRYSZYN and photos by EMMA KURYLA

A NE W C L A S S IC

A renovated Hudson home gets a timeless yard to match.

T

he Organs’ Hudson home announces itself from the street with stacked fieldstone columns topped with copper lanterns. Close to the Hudson Green and surrounded mostly by colonials, the 1967 home was renovated in 2015 after Jamie and Rick Organ purchased it. The yard needed a makeover to carry through that updated, inviting design while still looking timeless. “We wanted a more traditional feel to fit in with the Hudson area but be more comfortable for a contemporary lifestyle,” says Jamie.

Steve Malaga, a designer with KGK Gardening & Design Corp., delivered a classic and eye-catching transformation. “It’s an extremely unique space that is highly usable but also highly enjoyable,” Jamie says. “It’s kind of an oasis.”

Here are the impressive new touches that are rewarding for the homeowners and their guests.

the

details

S T O N E W O R K : To comple-

PAT I O A N D PAT H S :

ment the stone facade on the

During his time in Kentucky, Rick

home’s exterior, Malaga’s team

fell in love with the bluestone

created stacked fieldstone

commonly used there. Malaga

garden beds in sharp lines.

used the stones that are shades

Surprising historic barnstones,

of blue, tan and gray — a tra-

which were found on the prop-

ditional color palette — to pave

erty, are mixed in the walls.

the patio and serpentine walk-

“Those hidden details add a bit

ways. “We were able to create

of character,” he says. If you

something using natural materi-

look close enough, some still

als but still keep that clean, for-

show charge marks and chips

mal look,” he says. “It picks up

from being excavated.

the color of the walls, fixtures on the home, the landscape.”

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[ continued on page 36 ]

open air

the

details

[ continued from page 34 ]

E N T E R TA I N I N G : The Organs’ backyard is a go-to spot for gathering, playing lawn games, dining alfresco and catching up. “We have a space for nice conversation around the fire pit,” Jamie says. The fieldstone fire pit gets a dash of modernity from a smooth sandstone cap and sleek black fire glass that’s mixed with black lava stone. A fieldstone station with a built-in Weber grill and granite counter is accented by a white arbor that blends in during daylight and becomes dramatic when it’s uplit at night.

F O U N TA I N : Malaga replicated a fountain the Organs admired during a trip to Napa, California. An underwater light illuminates the copper-finished pondless water feature near the fire. “The birds love it,” Jamie says. She lists off winged visitors such as hummingbirds, robins and even a hawk. “He perched on the pipe. He was big!” she exclaims.

F O L I A G E : The Organs are treated to new sights as plants bud and blossom throughout the seasons. “There’s something always giving that color and texture,” Malaga says. You might see purple-pinkish astilbe in spring, soft pink hydrangeas through summer and a stunning seven-son flower tree that turns red in the fall. “I love waiting for certain things to bloom,” Jamie says. “There’s always something to look forward to.”

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33O HOMES fall 2020

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by ALEXANDRA SOBCZAK

WITH THE GRAIN

Why you should consider hardwood floors and how to care for them

H

ardwood floors continue to dominate, and the demand for them is only growing.

“We’re finding that wood floors become more desirable every year,” says Jim Leslie, owner and president of Williams Hardwood Flooring in Akron. Aside from being trendy, he makes a case for why you should contemplate hardwood floors when renovating, buying or building a home: “It’s the only floor that actually adds value to appraisal.”

A big reason for that is hardwood floors are easier and more sustainable to update. If the floors are lightly used and threequarters of an inch thick, they can be sanded and refinished five times without having to replace the whole floor. They are also sought after for being low maintenance and adding natural beauty to a home.

“It’s what people want. They want the easy care,” Leslie says. “They want the look.”

He offers a few tips on what to take into account when adding a new hardwood floor.

you have a large pet, consider

CORE NEEDS

SET THE TONE

There are many types of wood

a harder floor with more

After you’ve gauged what you

you can pick for floors — in a

durability, like hickory.

need, it’s time to factor in

descending level of hardness:

When shopping, Leslie cautions

design. The type of wood you

hickory, maple, ash, oak,

to be aware of what you're

pick affects what kind of stain

walnut and cherry. Oak is

getting. Most solid floors are

you may choose. Woods like oak

the most popular. Before you

thick. Most engineered wood

and hickory are lighter in color,

get to the fun decorative part,

floors can be finished a limited

so they can easily take any

think about wear and how

number of times or sometimes

shade of stain. Darker stains

active your family is in the

not at all. “They’re like

could appear blotchy on maple.

space the floor would go. If

throwaway floors,” he says. [ continued on page 40 ]

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fresh design

STAY POLISHED Make your hardwood floor last a lifetime with proper care.

Quick Wash: Leslie [ continued from page 38 ]

recommends mopping with combinations of half-

Think about what room you

FINISHING TOUCHES

traffic pattern much faster

strength liquid Spic and

To protect the stain, choose

than a satin or a matte finish

Span and water, a half cup

floor in and what mood

a finish. There are different

will,” Leslie says.

of white vinegar and a half

you’re after. Gray floors are

kinds of finishes to pick

popular now, especially in

After everything is picked out,

from, including oil-based

contemporary houses, Leslie

enlist professionals to install

polyurethane, which soaks

says. Family rooms tend to

it, which could take anywhere

into raw wood and has an

be on the casual side, so you

from a few days to a week

amber hue and water-based

could pull off an eclectic floor

depending on what room

polyurethane, which dries

with a color variation. But for

it’s going in and if you select

are installing the hardwood

a gallon of water or Bona

quicker and clear. Leslie

a formal dining room, Leslie

prefinished floors or have

recommends Bona Traffic HD,

recommends timeless medium

experts finish raw wood on-site.

a water-based polyurethane

to dark brown shades. And

surface finish. Finishes also

From types of wood to stains

whether you want the floor to

come in various levels of sheen

to finishes, there are many

match the furniture or create a

— matte, satin, semigloss

ways to customize your floor

contrast depends on what look

and gloss. Leslie says matte

to fit your taste and add value

you are going for. “We have

and satin are trendy but also

to your home both in the

customers saying, We wanna

practical since they better hold

future and now.

get it close to the color of the

up against highly traveled spots

hardwood floor cleaner.

Depending on activity levels, kitchens can be wiped every few days and dining rooms and living rooms each week or every two weeks.

Spill Saver: If water leaks on a floor, immediately

cabinets, and other people say,

than gloss and semigloss. “I

I wanna do lighter or darker,”

tell people that gloss finishes,

Leslie says.

although they’re beautiful when

mop it up. “It could be from a dishwasher, washing machine — whatever it is, it spits out water,” Leslie says. “They can probably save themselves some

“They’re beautiful and

problems with getting a fan

desirable to have,” Leslie says.

on the floor right away.” If

“I tell people, You should love

there is a major flood, call

your floor.”

your insurance company

they’re done, they’ll show a

to get a professional to make any repairs needed.

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33O HOMES fall 2020

s p o n s o r e d c o n t en t

RENTING AND OW N I NG IS ATTA I NA BL E W ITH T ESTA If you are employed by one of the Akron area hospital systems and looking to purchase a home or rent an apartment, you’re in luck.

“We have worked with local lenders and the Akron hospital systems to create a loan program that addresses the challenges faced by many in health care,” says Cassie Testa, director of sales and leasing for Testa Realty. “We offer loans that forgive student debt, lower down payments and discounts on closing costs.” Plus, with today’s low interest rates, owning can be inexpensive.

For those looking for a short-term solution, Testa also has you covered. It offers rental options from $1,100 to $5,500 a month that extend beyond downtown — offering incentives for any property on the market. If you choose to live downtown, there are plenty of amenities. Packages include gyms, resident lounges, movie theaters, private limos and more.

Testa Realty 330-819-0090 testacompanies.com

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dream house

by LYNNE THOMPSON photos by JOSEPH LEVACK

INVITE

ONLY Exclusive parties are hosted in this house's unbelievable new entertainment areas.

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dream house

T

he owners of this Hudson home are great entertainers. They host family-and-friends gatherings, business functions and fundraisers with anywhere from 10 to 300 guests. But the house they built a decade ago was lacking spaces and amenities for all those events.

This spring, the couple filled the gap with an attached addition that upped the home to 9,000 square feet. They also added a pool and patio they call a plaza for outdoor entertaining.

end — which has quartztopped metallic-laminate cabinetry and a black, white and taupe pennytile backsplash — it is an open spot for musicians and dancing. A wall of sliding-glass doors to the plaza opens completely so the couple can drive one of their sports cars into the center of the black silver-striated porcelaintile floor and display it. A custom lighting fixture’s large silver metallic discs each have an adjustable spotlight that can illuminate anything from a car to fundraising displays.

The result, rendered in the couple’s preferred whiteto-black gradation, is exactly what they desired.

“It delivers the vibe of a party,” Jones says.

WINE ROOM: The temperature-controlled basement-level amenity, finished with a metallic-cork wallcovering and engineered wood flooring, is lined with walnut-stained cabinetry custom-designed for displaying bottles, glassware and barware. Director of residential design Meg Ready notes that although the homeowners didn’t have an extensive wine collection when it was built, they wanted a quiet, intimate space to entertain. “If you had a couple over, you could sit at that [high-top wooden] table, uncork a bottle and chat,” she says.

A bookcase swings on an electronic pivot to reveal a staircase down to a cellar.

“You would never know the secret cellar is there unless you’re invited,” Ready says.

PARTY ROOM: He describes the approximately 500-square-foot space as “a chameleon room” that can be set up for any gathering. Aside from the catering kitchen at one

SECRET CELLAR: The homeowners liked the idea of entertaining a select group in an exclusive rathskeller-like feature Ready describes as “an old underground bar with

They charged Jones Group Interiors in Akron with designing glitzy spaces that look and feel like what president Eric Jones describes as “a Vegas club — that’s how people party today.”

Those interiors had to complement the rest of the home. “In their private space, it’s more transitional,” he explains of the subdued, clean-lined design. “When it turns into more eclectic entertaining space … it’s more modern surfaces and a more contemporary feel.”

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dream house

a Vegas feel.” The wet glass martini tables, spaced bar includes a commerout on the tiger-eye marble cial beverage cooler and floor. An illuminated wall shelves lit by LEDs that the of metallic tile that extends homeowners can program onto the ceiling — an eleto any color combination ment Ready calls a “sail” — they desire. Chrome seating defines the space occupied for six at the glass-topped by a corner banquette black-lacquer bar table is upholstered in black-andaugmented by cream swivwhite animal-print velvets. eling chairs, separated by “In a large room, it almost

46

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personalizes it, shrinks that down so you feel a little more cozy,” she says.

POWDER ROOM: Nightclub glitz is exemplified by a concave mirrored-tile alcove housing a granite vessel sink on a rock-faced granite pedestal. The rest of the walls are covered in black faux crocodile and silver

33O HOMES fall 2020

metallic cork that provide an abundance of textural interest and “deliver a very high-end, sophisticated kind of a glamour look,” Jones says. Painted charcoal moldings and a black ceiling crown the room.

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33O HOMES fall 2020

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by ZARIA JOHNSON and photos provided by DAVEY TREE

ROOT DOCTOR

An expert shares how to keep your trees healthy and safe.

T

rees bring crisp beauty and cool shade to our yards, but they can become hazardous if they aren’t cared for properly.

“When a tree is under stress, insects and disease can become a problem,” says Scott Heim, a district manager with Davey Tree’s Akron branch. Once that happens, branches or the entire tree can fall and cause damage.

Heim provides tips on how to care for trees and what to do if they become a safety issue.

GROWTH SPURT A healthy tree has a strong,

It could be a small problem,

It can be difficult to diagnose,

like too little or too much

so Heim recommends calling

sturdy trunk and thick

water, but it might be more

an expert. “Anything that looks out of the ordinary would be a

branches full of healthy leaves

serious. Mushrooms or fungal

and new growth. Anything

conks on the base or trunk of

good time to have a certified

outside of that might mean

the tree could indicate decay,

arborist take a look at what’s

while wilting branches or dis-

going on,” he says.

there’s an issue.

colored leaves could be a sign of oak wilt, a fungal disease. [ continued on page 50 ]

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s p o n s o r ed c o n t e n t

W E AV E R C U S T O M H O M E S OF F ERS EXCEL L ENCE Since 1979, the values of excellence and integrity have been the foundation of Weaver Custom Homes. President Merle Stutzman had a vision to expand to new markets and integrate new technology into our design and building process. Our in-house team of professionals — which includes a draftsman, 3D designer and interior designer — work closely with clients to discover their ideal solution.

We entered into the central Ohio market in 2010 with a parade home in New Albany. In 2014, we purchased and renovated a historic building in downtown Wooster for our new design center and corporate office. This awardwinning design center offers inspiration and showcases design elements that clients can touch and feel before incorporating them into their custom home.

Today, we still do business the old-fashioned way. We look at each home we build like it’s our own. No matter the location or the investment range, our first priority is to build a welcoming place where your family will create memories for decades to come.

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www.SuncrestGardens.com t 330.650.4969 t 5157 Akron-Cleveland Rd., Peninsula, Ohio 33O HOMES fall 2020

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your needs.

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design solutions inspired by you...

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gotchacovered.com/hudson [ continued from page 48 ]

blinds | shades | shutters | draperies | bedding top treatments | motorization | commercial

TIMBER TIME If a major issue is found in a small tree, it’s likely time to cut it down.

Before you remove it, thoroughly wet the surrounding soil. The next day, dig out the tree’s roots, which likely extend as far as the branches. After you’re finished, you can cut up the tree and use it as firewood or dispose of it based on your city’s guidelines.

Those who don’t have experience or have a big tree with a problem should err on the side of caution.

“It’s dangerous work,” Heim says.

“My advice is to call an arborist that does this as a profession.”

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BRANCH OUT Dead branches and discolored

You’ll want to prune your tree

leaves don’t always mean a tree

every four to five years, and

has to be removed. These things

depending on the size of the tree

can also be a sign of a tree in need

and your skill level, you can use

of pruning, which is trimming

sheers, loppers or handsaws. The

back dead, diseased, overgrown or

method varies depending on the

dangerous branches. An arborist

tool, but make sure to avoid rip-

can diagnose your tree’s issue to

ping the bark. Try to leave a clean

be certain, but if it’s a minor issue,

cut for proper healing. Heim says if

pruning is a nice solution that’s

a tree needs to be climbed or it’s in

good for trees, too.

a hazardous area, like near power

“It’s better off for the health of the tree,” Heim says. This practice

lines, you should call a professional.

To keep your trees thriving, regu-

thins the canopy of the tree and

larly monitor them. Heim says

can help wind and light better

this can be as easy as making sure

reach leaves, improve flower or

your tree is watered, fertilized and

fruit production and more.

pruned as needed. “Good cultural practices will help the tree stay healthier and keep it out of that stress,” he says.

THE ART OF LIVING

FROM MODEST TO GRAND contact us today

33O HOMES fall 2020

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330.686.0901 vizmeg.com

open air

W HEN STU M PED Here are a few problems in trees that you should get checked by a certified arborist.

Deadwood: Branches or other parts of the tree are dead Root Rot: Mushrooms or fungal conks growing around the base or trunk of the tree Decay: Dead limbs or cracks and holes in the trunk Dieback: Gradual death of twigs and branches in the tree canopy that generally starts at the tips and progresses on

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OHIO WINTERS RU I N YOU R CONCR ET E .

L UC K I LY, P E R F E C T P OW E R W A S H I S H E R E T O H E L P. Seasonal changes in temperature are devastating to the concrete surfaces around your home. Ohio’s upcoming freeze and thaw cycles cause irreversible cracking, pitting, chipping, and spalling (f laking). This damage is not only an eyesore but very costly to repair or replace.

As a homeowner, it is important to know that this is preventable with proper maintenance. With 20 years of experience and over 100,000 satisfied customers, at Perfect Power Wash it is our mission to help Ohio homeowners maintain the beauty of their home. Our proven concrete wash and seal process safely f lushes contaminants from the pores of your concrete, and a premium sealer penetrates below the surface to strengthen it from within.

Be proactive and call the team at Perfect Power Wash today to take advantage of our best offer ever and save 20 percent on a house wash, roof treatment, deck wash, and/or concrete wash and seal.

Perfect Power Wash 3443 Summit Road, Norton 330-349-5024 perfectpowerwash.com

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CHOOSE THE BEST BU I L DER FOR YOU R HOM E The task of selecting a homebuilder can be intimidating. You want someone you can trust for the biggest investment of your life. After two generations in this industry, we offer some tips in making your choice.

• Be sure expectations on the project are clear and a partnership between you and the build team is formed from the initial concept. Incorporating your ideas is integral.

• Understand the range of each builder. From modern to rustic style and economy to luxury-grade finishes, every builder has a range they can execute optimally.

• Know the resources, knowledge and portfolio the crew has behind them. The team's experience will affect your project.

We love creating projects with our clients and wish the best for you in your home design journey. Contact us at info@shultzdc.com to discuss a potential project.

Shultz Design & Construction 3465 S. Arlington Road, Suite 116 E, Akron 330-896-8883 shultzdc.com 33O HOMES fall 2020

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by MOLLY HEIDEMAN

PIC T U R E PE R F EC T

Add a stylish gallery wall to highlight treasured images.

TRY it

E

xtra time at home has spurred many to redecorate.

An easy way to pull together a room, reflect personality and showcase sentimental memories is creating a gallery-style art wall with a cluster of picture frames. We spoke with Lori Drugan, owner of Gallery of Framing in Fairlawn, to get tips on making an interesting and beautiful collage.

PHOTO EDIT

LITTLE MIX

Before combing your photo albums,

Exact matches are

decide where to hang your frames.

a thing of the past.

Bedroom collages can display more

Drugan loves to switch

personal photos, Drugan advises, while

up different moldings,

dining room collages work better with

shapes and sizes of

decorative shots. She recommends

frames in wall collages.

selecting moments from family

Try to stick with a color

vacations, meaningful ones or just a

scheme to keep the look

few of your faves. You can also add

cohesive. “If you’re gonna

graphic art prints. Keep simplicity in

go with gold, stay with

mind for subject matter and colors — or

gold. But you definitely

lack thereof. “I like to stick with black

don’t have to use the

and white,” Drugan says. She has seen

same molding profile

people mix color and black-and-white

for all of them,” Drugan

images but cautions to be mindful. “It

says. “I’m all about using

starts getting too busy,” she says.

different frames.”

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fresh design

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LINE DANCE suggests a wall where you have enough space to form a layout, like behind the couch or even a stairwell.

Packing frames tightly can work for smaller spots, but

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spread out your photos when you have room.

Drugan suggests finding

Finish carpenters with 25 plus years of experience

symmetry in the design.

You can hang frames where they don't line up, but do so within reason. “I like to make sure that there’s

Custom made trim & window sills come standard

balance,” Drugan says.

“Not too heavy on the top or bottom or not too heavy on either side.”

Nobody installs windows and doors like we do!

330-695-4905 MillerCustomExteriors.com 33O HOMES fall 2020

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Miller CUSTOM EXTERIORS

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by ALEXANDRA SOBCZAK

BREATHE RIGHT Take care of indoor air quality to improve health.

T

“We have direct control over he news makes us aware our environment [in our house],” says Adams, whose of air pollution company performs what he calls “comfort consults” and in our world, but solves underlying problems we often don’t think in home performance. “We about the air quality can actually fix that.” inside our homes.

Having good indoor air qualIndoor air quality ity is dependent on three can be a hidden things — fresh air, a good filtration system and humidcause of health ity control. A lack of those problems, so Nate in a Shaker Heights home in Adams, the founder of 2015 created a mold problem for the couple who lived Energy Smart Home there. One of the residents Performance and Nate has a debilitating allergy to the House Whisperer, mycotoxin, which is produced by mold. He had to encourages consider going on permanent homeowners to monitor air quality and make improvements as needed.

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disability due to his allergic reactions. Adams worked with the couple to install a ventilating dehumidifier, which controls humidity and provides fresh air, and a small two-stage heat pump, which helps with filtration.

The residents reported having clearer sinuses, feeling less tired and no longer experiencing extreme allergic reactions.

Indoor air quality can make a big difference. Adams offers expert advice on some changes you can make to ensure your home is healthy and comfortable. [ continued on page 58 ]

s p o n s o r ed c o n t e n t

T R A NSFOR M I NG SPACE S WITH DREA MY DESIGN We are Erin and Ashley, sisters who believe that home furnishings are more than just a purchase — they are what makes a house a home. Our drive to offer high design and impeccable quality allows us to provide beautiful pieces for you and your family. Furniture and design have been a lifelong passion of ours, and we love transforming spaces into something our clients have only ever dreamt of. Our store carries a wide array of stunning quality pieces, including custom upholstery, lighting, custom dining and bedroom collections, wall decor, bedding and home decor, and that allows us to completely transform rooms.

Whether you are on the hunt for that one missing piece or are looking for assistance in designing and furnishing your entire home, we are here to help.

Thank you for welcoming MHF into your home to take part in designing your dream house!

Miller's Home Furnishings 6220 Promler Ave. NW, North Canton 330-495-9331 millershomefurnishings.com

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MBS INTERIORS MEETS A LL OF YOU R DE SIGN N EEDS MBS Interiors is a full-service kitchen and bath design center in Canton. In addition to our professional design services, we offer the highest quality semi-custom cabinetry from KraftMaid, StarMark, UltraCraft, Merillat and Mid Continent.

Make your kitchen and bath sparkle with expert designs, products and services. One of the best ways to save money on your renovation is to seek the help of an MBS Interiors kitchen and bath designer to avoid costly mistakes an expert can foresee. Our designers guide you and help you determine your ideal investment and timeline.

MBS Interiors kitchen and bath designers will assist you with designing cabinets, planning space, selecting appliances, drawing f loor plans and coordinating measurements and dependable deliveries. Book your design consultation with MBS Interiors today to create your dream kitchen or bath.

MBS Interiors 4426 Whipple Ave. NW, Canton 330-409-9343 mbsinteriors.com

33O HOMES fall 2020

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PESKY POLLUTANTS Poor indoor air quality can cause an increase in illness, allergies, asthma and more. Energy Smart Home Performance can check for pollutants in your home to prevent health issues for you and your family. Here are some it can detect.

Carbon Dioxide High levels of carbon dioxide in your home can impair your decision-making performance, according to a 2012 Berkeley lab study.

Carbon Monoxide This can be a byproduct of any STAY ALERT

diluting the air that they’re

is horrific for air quality,” he

fuel-burning appliance in your

Adams recommends get-

exhaling.” Because of this, hav-

says. “Induction stoves are

house that burns incorrectly.

ting an air quality monitor,

ing a quality filter in you HVAC

wonderful. They don’t screw

Low-level exposure can cause

such as an Air Things Wave

system is essential. He advises

up air quality nearly as much.”

symptoms such as nausea,

or Awair, so that you can be

getting a 4-inch MERV 13 filter.

notified of issues. They must

Be sure to check that it works

be turned on and connected at

well with your HVAC system

all times. “It’s like a car alarm

before making the switch.

that goes off,” Adams says. If your monitor sends an alarm, he recommends contacting a home performance specialist to help identify and address the problem.

WARNING LIGHT He also raises alarm about ultraviolet lights, which employ the highest portion of the UV

Adams recommends a variable

radiation spectrum. These

speed HVAC, which is similar

lights are sometimes used to

rapid breathing, weakness and confusion, while high-level exposure can cause irreversible neurological effects, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports.

to the system in cars — you

kill germs, but the Food and

Volatile Organic Compounds

have more control over the

Drug Administration warns

These are chemicals that

temperature, how much air is

they can emit ozone, which

evaporate and enter the air

blown and whether fresh air

can cause irritation to breath-

at low temperatures. They

QUALITY CONTROL

is entering. If you’re searching

ing passages. Adams says UV

are linked to some household

Often, a new heating, ven-

for an option that’s especially

lights can work if carefully

cleaners and paints. These can

tilation and air conditioning

energy efficient, consider a

engineered, but he doesn’t

cause nose and throat irritation,

system is part of the solution.

heat pump HVAC system.

recommend them in residential

headaches, dizziness and

settings. “A friend of mine was

more, according to the CDC.

That’s because ensuring your HVAC system brings in fresh air is important to your health, Adams explains. “If someone is sick, you don’t wanna breathe in too much of what they exhale,” he says. “It’s all about reducing a dosage, so if you’re bringing in outdoor air, you’re

GOOD COOK

given a UV light to try out in

Adams cautions against using

his house. His wife has asthma,

natural gas appliances in your

and it put her in the hospital,”

home. One replacement he

he says. “One of the big things

recommends is an induction

we go by is ‘Do no harm,’ and

stove. He explains that these

UV lights for houses don’t pass

are easy to clean, heat up

that test.”

quicker than gas stoves and

Particulate Matter This is something small enough to enter your lungs or bloodstream. Examples include smoke, ash from fireplaces and diesel soot. Both shortand long-term exposure can lead to worsened asthma,

emit less pollutants. “Cooking

lowered lung function and premature death, the World Health Organization reports.

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s p o n s o r ed c o n t e n t

A N A RTISA N A PPROACH TO REMODELING & DESIGN Architectural Justice has been providing homeowners of The 330 with an artisan approach to design and remodeling for 35 years. Its unique design center in Medina offers clients a one-stop shop for all the materials and products needed to transform a home.

Architectural Justice is also one of the largest stocking stone fabricators in the area, featuring nearly 2,000 slabs of exotic stone on-site. Along with stone fabrication, other on-site services include custom cabinetry, furniture and millwork, architectural metal design and fabrication, as well as design and remodeling services.

Whether it’s a small project or a full remodel, its purpose is to give you the most creative and innovative solution for your space.

Architectural Justice 2462 Pearl Road, Medina 330-225-6000 architecturaljustice.com

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R E V I TA L I Z E T I R E D SPACE S W I T H A FA L L U PDAT E Mood boosters — there are many types of them. Maybe the scent of a candle, a photograph, music or the softest afghan.

But what about color? Behr paint company is focusing its 2021 trend prediction report on examining emotions and selecting a paint hue that is right for the space. Here are a few options.

Make sure the walls around you in your workspaces are ref lecting and connecting with your needs.

Kalahari Sunset: Someone in a creative field like marketing and advertising may need to tap into something like this saffron color. It bursts with energy and can easily be incorporated on an accent wall.

Nocturne Blue: With the many unknowns of virtual learning and home schooling, kiddos may need a reassuring and calming color. Pair it with a classic neutral in the space, and it will help bring focus and calm to the school day.

Royal Orchard: For all those stay-at-home moms, take a look at this relaxing green that mimics the healing effects of nature and invites some much needed alone time after running the household all day.

Interior Design Studio 207 S. Court St., Medina 330-725-7623 interiordesignstudiooh.com 33O HOMES fall 2020

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