March 28, 2013

Better Homes & Gardens Spring 2013

Inside • Increasing the value of your home • Picture framing • Investment ideas • Safer counter tops • Redesign & staging • Home automation • Window coverings

Spring 2013

Page 2

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Better Homes & Gardens

Choosing kitchen cabinets custom cabinets vs flat pack/stock cabinetry Kitchen cabinets are the most visible and used part of any home. So, before you decide on new kitchen cabinets, do your homework first.

If you see something you like in a magazine or in someone else’s kitchen or show room, keep a file of pictures, designs and features you like. Next thing to do is to talk to certified kitchen designers.

Choose a designer you are comfortable with because you will be spending a lot of time together planning your dream kitchen. It’s a good idea to let the designer know about your lifestyle as they can make suggestions to enhance your space to suit your needs.

There are usually three categories of cabinetry, which include flat packput together cabinetry, stock/catalogue cabinets as well as custom/built to size cabinetry.

It’s important to know the differences, the advantages and disadvantages of each before you begin shopping.

Custom cabinetry is made to fit your space and your taste.

Each cabinet is made to your specifications, one at a time when your order is placed.

Unlike stock and flat pack cabinetry, nothing is pre made or warehoused.

The biggest benefit of custom cabinetry is that it is uniquely yours.

The space is designed and built specifically for your home. Stock cabinets

are mass produced, preassembled and warehoused prior to purchase.

They are essentially off the shelf and made in limited number of designs and finishes. Sizes are generally restricted to a range of standard industry sizes, beginning at 9” and increasing in size by 3” increments. So, if your dimensions fall outside the 3” increments, there will be gaps.

Filler strips are used to close the gaps. The more fillers needed, the more wasted space you will have.

Flat pack cabinetry follows the same industry size format and uses fillers or trim to close the gaps.

There are no standard sizes or filler pieces in custom cabinetry. Cabinet height, width and depth can be adjusted to fit corners or unusual spaces.

Instead of using fillers to fill the gaps or dead spaces, custom cabinetry can turn that space into a unique storage solution or display area.

The advantage of ordering flat pack cabinetry is usually they cost less and are quicker to have shipped out.

The disadvantage would be that they need to be put together.

Time and space to build those types of cabinets should be factored in when looking at the cost.

Another thing to consider is stock cabinets may come pre-assembled, but the freight to have them

Take care when choosing your kitchen cabinets.

Style, price and function are all important factors.

Locally Manufactured Cabinets built specifically for your home

shipped will cost you more.

Purchasing a new kitchen is a huge investment in your home.

Take time to decide what your wants and needs are.

Then pick cabinetry to suit your lifestyle, so you can enjoy your new kitchen for many years to come.

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Spring 2013

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Better Homes & Gardens

Beauty from within With each passing day signs of springtime peek out from the Cariboo snowbanks.

With longer daylight hours cabin fever takes hold and we start to feel anxious to begin tossing our winter clothes aside and to get on with new season rituals.

As we wait for the snow to leave and the ground to thaw, lets celebrate the wonderous beauty of spring with a new tea concept called skin-smart.

Skin-smart is a delicious antioxidant tea meticulously blended with the bodies chemistry to help protect and take care of skin from within. These teas deliver the detoxifying effects of abundant plantbased antioxidants, a strong tool in skin recovery and the fight against visible signs of skin ageing. Consider these combinations.

Cucumber mint: with green tea for youth recovery. Special reserve green tea with invigorating cool notes of cucumber

fruit and fresh mint, with the taste of sweet cherries.

Cherry Marzipan: with green tea for corrective repair. Special reserve green tea with the tart-sweet taste of acerola cherries and the depth of nutty toasted almond.

Honey Yuzu: with green tea for renewal. Special reserve green tea with the bright exotic citron flavour of yuzu and the sweetness of honey.

Lychee Coconut: with white tea for radiant skin.

Rare white tea with the exotic tropical notes of sweet lychee and the intoxicating fragrance of sweet coconut.

Don’t let the snowy weather of early spring get you down. Pull out those seed catalogues, brew a pot of Skin-Smart tea (helping to keep you looking and feeling beautiful) serve in your favourite tea cup or mug and celebrate spring.

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It is believed that green teas can help with wrinkles and the signs of aging, this is because of their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

Both animal and human studies have demonstrated that green tea applied topically can reduce sun damage.

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Spring 2013

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Better Homes & Gardens

Increase storage possibilities What homeowner has not lamented that they have many more belongings than they have storage space?

In some homes, particularly in older homes, closet space and other areas to store items may be lacking.

Apartment dwellers often find they’re lacking in storage space as well.

But savvy homeowners can find both permanent and

temporary solutions to their home storage problems.

One of the easiest ways to create storage space is to simply remove some belongings from the residence.

Go through closets around the house and pick through the attic and/ or garage to see if there are any items that can be discarded or donated.

Items that are broken can

be discarded, while those things that still have utility can be donated or sold.

The next step is to maximize the space of your existing closets.

Many closets are equipped with just a shelf and a clothing rack, greatly limiting the storage potential.

Investing in a closet organization system is one way to transform a poorly

utilized space.

These systems can be purchased, often inexpensively, from a home improvement center.

Compiled of modular racks and shelving, the positioning can be customized depending on the size of the closet.

Oftentimes, the addition of shelving or another rack for hanging clothes can solve some storage issues.

These closet systems also are ideal for renters because they can be installed with minimal damage and be removed when a lease expires.

Homeowners may have to think vertically to solve storage solutions.

Wall space may be abundant in a home where closets are not.

Therefore, shelving and cabinets can be places to keep items neatly off the floor.

A series of shelves can be installed next to a washing

machine to keep laundry supplies organized. In children’s rooms, build bookcases the height of the room so children can store frequently used reading material and toys on the lower levels, and adults can put collectibles and mementos near the top.

Hang hooks to hold hats and robes.

Whenever possible, look to store items on the walls where they will keep clutter off the floor.

Storage can even be created in the bathroom, where the space over the toilet can be used to hang a cabinet to store hand towels and other toiletries if the space under the sink has already been claimed.

Many apartment dwellers recognize the advantage of having items that serve double-duty in their living spaces.

For example, a convertible sofa can be used for sitting and then

turn into a bed for overnight guests.

Ottomans that have a storage compartment can house anything from throw blankets to magazines. An armoire may house the television but also have a pull-out shelf that can hold a laptop computer.

In the kitchen, move food items out of cabinetry and into a “pantry” you create elsewhere in the house, such as a laundry room or garage.

This frees up more room for pots and pans.

Cabinets that have pullout shelving help maximize tight recesses of cabinets and keep things organized and in sight.

For those with limited cabinets, pots and pans can be hung from a pot rack suspended in the kitchen.

Even when there is a small amount of storage space, individuals can find clever ways to neatly store items.

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Messy closets and clutter elsewhere in the home may be indicative of a storage deficit. But there are ways to easily increase storage space.

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Spring 2013

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Better Homes & Gardens

Heirloom: n. anything that has been handed down in a family for generations There are indeed many heirlooms in many families. I am sure you have contact with the physical memories of your family and cherish them. And you plan to pass them on to the generations coming up after you.

Those photos of great-great granddad and those medals of his from the war.

That christening gown that has been kept in that same box for decades. Your great aunt’s favourite costume jewelry she left you in her will.

Well, there is a way to enjoy these things and have them protected at the same time.

There is a way to have them welcomed into your children’s homes after you have had your time with the memories.

With the advent of special Ultraviolet shielded glazing, acid free materials and advanced mounting techniques, you can now hang these heirlooms on the wall with complete confidence that they will last for many generations.

These framing creations can include photographs from the day, which can be scanned and reproduced in more practical sizes and mounted into a “Shadowbox”, or memory box, along with memorabilia like those medals, that costume jewelry, your great uncle’s watch, that little drawing of your mom’s when she was a toddler.

All of these and anything else can be combined with an artistic flair into a story box and hung on your walls with pride. The story of your family can be brought out of those boxes, out of that drawer or from those albums and into the light that gives life to the power of your family’s history.

Bring those special mementoes out of the dark and onto your framer’s design table.

Be prepared to honor the past and reward your family with an heirloom worthy of many generations.

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Spring 2013

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Better Homes & Gardens

Steps to dress up your backyard

A backyard can look very bare when the snow disappears, but it is a great time to discover all sorts of new possibilities.

If your lot lies on varying natural ground elevations, you may be tempted to give a new look to your property by dressing it up with some steps.

The choice of materials to be used will depend on the style of your home.

You might choose brick, cut stone, river stone, marble, slate, concrete, or even wooden logs.

Once the materials are purchased, construction of the steps can begin.

Don’t worry: this is a lot less technically challenging than building an inside staircase.

The first thing to do is to stretch a cord around the area to define where earth has to be removed

to carve out rough steps.

By defining individual steps you will create a sort of grid. Using a spade, shape the steps, thus creating the base for your structure. If you want to be precise about the rise and width of this outdoor stairway, consult your local hardware store experts for recommended measurements or visit the do-it-yourself aisle at your library or neighbourhood bookstore.

Before positioning your materials it is important to prepare the ground and strengthen the base of each step with packed sand or with a layer of poured concrete on a bed of crushed stone. If you’re doing this work in the spring, be sure not to work at temperatures below 5°C or the concrete will not set properly.

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Spring 2013

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Page 7

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Spring 2013

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Better Homes & Gardens

What makes an energy-efficient window?

To counter the low heat-retaining efficiency of glass window panes, revolutionary technologies have led to the perfecting of highly energy-efficient windows.

The improvements include low emittance coating, the use of inert gases between the panes, lowconductivity spacers, and improved window frames.

Low emittance coating is a thin, invisible metallic coating which is applied directly to the surface of the window glazing.

It reduces heat loss by reflection, transmitting most of the solar spectrum rays towards the interior.

The coating also pre-

vents the penetration of heat emitted by objects outside the structure and blocks most of the ultraviolet rays that discolour carpets and fabrics.

By filling the space between the panes of a window with inert gas, thermal transmittance (heat loss) by conduction and by convection is reduced.

The new low-conductivity spacers are a considerable improvement as far as energy efficiency is concerned.

Generally speaking, they can increase the efficiency of a low emittance window filled with argon by 20 percent.

The effectiveness of the techniques and the

materials used varies considerably and consumers should always rely on the Energy Rating (ER) number.

A frame made from efficient materials will reduce heat loss by conduction to a minimum.

Thanks to stronger materials, frames and sashes are now much thinner.

This creates a larger surface area of glazing, which in turn increases solar heat gains.

Take note that frames manufactured from a blend of materials draw benefits from the synergy of each of their strengths.

Good energy efficiency in a frame translates into a high ER number.

Windows are thermal holes.

An average home may lose 30% of its heat or air-conditioning energy through its windows.

Energy-efficient windows save money each and every month.

To get the best value from your windows, select units that match your climate.

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Spring 2013

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Page 9

Better Homes & Gardens

Today’s curtains and draperies Today, as windows swoop to the ceilings— and even into the ceilings of many a home—fabric at the windows is an important statement.

Decisions about draperies in the home fall into distinct categories: Privacy (which also includes protection); physical and visual touch; light control; sound control; and colour.

Put these categories in order of preference; it will make a difference.

For example, if you wish for privacy at night but have your heart set on a sheer to only diffuse the light during the day, you may need to add another treatment, such as a cellular shade,

or soft shading to take care of both needs.

Do not discount the emotion that fabric can bring into a home: the mood of an interior can be affected by the colours chosen (sunny versus somber), how light or heavy a fabric is, how casual or elegant, how romantic or businesslike.

There are many ways to keep your fabrics looking their best at the window.

Always have your treatments lined, unless you specifically want light to filter through.

Lining gives your drapery bulk, protection, and stability—and quite honestly, most unlined drapery look cheap.

Here are some

recommendations: Interfacing: Fabrics used to offer support and give shape to the primary fabric.

Lining: A layer attached to the backside of the decorative fabric or interlining to protect

drapery fabric from sunrays and potential water damage from leaky windows.

All these considerations will definitely

make your windows be” the best dressed in town”

Submitted by E.L. Fabricating

Interlining: An insulation of sorts to pad, stiffen, and protect the decorative fabric, as well as provide insulation between the outside and the inside of the home.

Interlining is sandwiched in between the decorative fabric and the lining that faces to the street side of the window.

Interlining is not seen but provides a great deal of protection and oomph to the drapery.

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Curtains serve a variety of purposes in the modern home. In addition to adding to a home’s decor and style, insulated curtains can help trap heat or cool air inside, reducing overall home energy use and costs, with positive environmental and economic results. Curtains also add privacy, a plus for people who live in apartments or neighborhoods. And because curtains filter daytime light, too, they can help reduce fading and damage caused by sunlight over time in rooms with strong sun exposure.

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Spring 2013

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Better Homes & Gardens

Pros and cons to including an island in the kitchen Homeowners planning a kitchen remodel are no doubt considering whether to include a kitchen island in the new design. When the space allows, an island can be a fine way to enhance the look of a kitchen and impart an upscale appeal.

Interest in kitchen islands has grown steadily for the past several decades. Introduced in the 1970s, islands became a popular place for guests to congregate and provided extra counter space for meal preparation and entertaining. The suburban migration led to bigger homes with larger kitchens. Through the 1980s and 1990s, homes grew even larger, and islands became a popular feature of kitchens across the country.

The increase in foodbased programming on television has also contributed to the popularity of kitchen islands.

As more people dabble with preparing their own gourmet meals, kitchen islands have become more convenient.

Although there are many benefits to an island in the kitchen, there are also some disadvantages to kitchen islands.

Weighing all the options can help homeowners design a kitchen layout that is functional, affordable and practical for the space they have.

Pros Arguably the most significant advantage to having a kitchen island is the added space it provides. Many times islands are built with cabinetry that matches the rest of the kitchen design, and those cabinets provide storage space for pots, pans and other kitchen tools. Islands may double the storage space available in the kitchen.

Kitchen islands are also advantageous when preparing meals.

Kitchen counter space can be easily gobbled up by toaster ovens, rotisserie cookers, microwaves, coffee makers, and various other countertop appliances.

These appliances can take up valuable real estate that’s sorely missed when preparing meals. An island can be used solely for cooking and preparation, and some homeowners have incorporated cutting boards and a prep sink into the design of the island.

Islands also can be customized according to a homeowner’s needs. Instead of simply having cabinetry beneath the counter, some opt to have a wine cooler or even a bookshelf for keeping cookbooks within reach. An additional small dishwasher or beverage refrigerator may be tucked into the design of the island. For others, the island may be a makeshift kitchen office space.

Cons Expense is a leading negative factor with regard to a kitchen island.

The additional material necessary and the labor involved in installation may bust some homeowners’ budgets.

Stationary islands can cost several thousand dollars to install, and this is money a homeowner may be better off investing elsewhere.

In smaller kitchens, an island may be impractical because of the space limitation.

Islands are typically at the heart of the kitchen and may interfere with walking space or cause clearance issues when the refrigerator door or cabinet doors are open.

For homeowners who find space is at a premium in the kitchen, an

Homeowners should question whether a kitchen island is a practicality for their renovation projects. island may not be the best idea. However, a rolling island that can be moved into position when needed, then stored in a convenient, out-of-the-way location might be a viable option.

Depending on the complexity of a kitchen island, its installation may extend the amount of time required to complete the kitchen renovation.

This can prolong the length of time needed to complete the work.

Running a gas or electric line and plumbing to the island may require a major overhaul and demolition.

Kitchen islands are popular components of home designs.

Before homeowners engage in any kitchen renovation that may include the incorporation of an island, they should know the advantages and disadvantages.

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Spring 2013

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Better Homes & Gardens

What is home automation?

For some it can be as simple as remote or automatic control of a few lights. For others, security may be the central application. As a very basic definition, we tend to refer to home automation as anything that gives you remote or automatic control of things around the home.

What can I control?

Lighting: Dim light fixtures you could never dim before, and control them from anywhere. You can set them up for a scene such as a party where you push one button and the whole house lights up. If you have a fire alarm go off in the middle of the night it automatically turns on lights so you can see.

Security: Have your home call you if there is an alert situation. You can remote arm or disarm and unlock a door from anywhere to let a service person in to do work for you. You can remotely view a camera from your computer or smartphone to see if your kids arrived home on time.

Home Theater: Just imagine having one remote and when you push a button it turns on your tv, cable box, and surround sound sytem for you.

Thermostats:

Remote controlled thermostats allow you to adjust the temperature on your way home from work. They can also turn down the temperature when you arm your security system and they can trigger an alert if the temperature gets too low, preventing pipes from freezing.

Home automation is a convenience for the home owner, offering multiple possiblities and makes life easier.

Submitted by Sean Kelly, Edwards Security

The popularity of home automation has been increasing greatly in recent years due to much higher affordability and simplicity though smartphone and tablet connectivity.

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Spring 2013

Page 12

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Better Homes & Gardens

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Concrete Pumping.... Always Available....

You pickup or we deliver NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH CONCRETE OR GRAVEL YOU NEED? Multiply length x width x depth. Make sure all numbers are in feet. Divide total by 27.

That gives you the number of cubic yards you need.

Ex: Driveway 100’ x 10’ x .17’ (2” deep) = 170 ÷ 27 = 6.30 cubic yards

Call Us Today!

Whether you need a little or a lot of gravel or sand...

Available by the dump truck or pickup load....

100% Locally Owned & Operated CONCRETE ROADS FOR THE LONG HAUL

Ready Mix Concrete 2000

Proud Member of the Williams Lake Construction Association

British Columbia Ready-Mixed Concrete Assoc.

Member

250-392-3443 • 245 Hodgson Rd • unitedwl@laketown.net • 1-888-311-5511