Spring Home & Garden Special Insert Section 2018

spring 2018

Paint & Curb Appeal What matters when selling your home Page 6

Community Gardens Popularity increases in shared projects Page 10

A special supplement of

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Home & Garden

March 29, 2018

spring 2018

Table of Contents

Page Content Owner/Publisher Advertising Director Advertising Manager Special Projects Production Manager Advertising Sales

JERRY HEALEY ERIN ADDENBROOKE MEREDITH THOMPSON THELMA GRIMES ERIN FRANKS KAREN EARHART STEVEN GREGG ANN∙MARIE MEYN MINDY NELON MAUREEN SHIVELY BARB STOLTE LISA ALLISON TINA MELTZER

To advertise call:

303∙566∙4100

Advertising Design

3. TIPS FOR A HOME MAKEOVER 5. 5 WAYS TO REFRESH YOUR HOME 7. CLEANING, DISPOSAL & RECYCLING 12. 4 WAYS HARDSCAPES ADD VALUE 13. FARMER’S MARKET DIRECTORY 14. ORGANIZE YOUR GARAGE

The 2018 Spring Home & Garden Section is a special supplement of Colorado Community Media, publisher of 18 weekly community papers and websites reaching over 300,000 readers.

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Home & Garden

Tips for a home makeover

(without breaking the bank)

Many of us love watching HGTV, DIY Network, and other home improvement networks. We have imagined how exciting it would be to have a makeover crew show up and renovate our residence. Yet, most of us would like more control of changes in our home.

To make your home makeover dreams happen, follow these guidelines: PAM PECCOLO/SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

• Set a budget — Whether you’re remodeling or planning a complete makeover, make sure you know the cost ahead of time. Having a budget helps you create a spending plan for your money, helps ensure you have enough money for everything needed per room, and helps you stay focused.

• Identify the biggest return for your money — There are many things you can do to renovate your home, but the biggest return for you dollar is paint.

“Paint is a cost-effective way to update your home. You can spruce up the look just by changing wall color,” said Jennie Norris, a professional home stager and owner of Sensational Home Staging.

• DIY what you can — “If people are planning to renovate kitchens or bathrooms, I ask what can you do for yourselves to save money? What do you want to hire out?,” said Norris. “Doing some of the work yourself can really help save some money.

For instance, Norris said to update your home, you might replace older, dark doors with white, six to eight panel doors from Home Depot or Lowe’s. You might also do the painting yourself. And faucets are easy to update. To add a touch of class, consider a brushed, antique gold look.

• Check contractor references — Before moving forward with a contractor to do specific work in the home, Norris recommends you check their references and ask the following questions before signing on the dotted line: • Were you satisfied with the work?

• Did your project run over the budget?

• Did they clean up the workspace?

• Was the contractor professional and considerate?

• Would you use this contractor again?

• Look for budget-friendly, renovation paint kits online — When Heather White, a Castle Rock resident, decided to update her kitchen countertops, she knew she wanted to do the work herself, but affordably. Online, she found Giani.com, a company that provides DIY paint kits for countertops and other projects.

“I bought the White Diamond kit for about $80,” White said. “I followed all the instructions and used the paint and finishing topcoat. Now I have a gorgeous, new, very affordable countertop that looks like granite.”

• Research online for paint and decorating ideas — Houzz.com, TheDecorologist.com and Pinterest offer inspirational ideas, showing popular home renovation trends. “Right now, neutrals are still popular, but warmer grays are being used,” Norris said. “I like Agreeable Gray—it’s a greige, or grayish beige from Sherwin-Williams.”

• If selling your house, keep updates “on trend” — Homeowners need to pick home finishes they like, but not create a home that is so custom the improvements are a detriment to selling.

“I tell homeowners to keep in mind if they are planning to sell in the next five years or less, they need to keep their changes on trend,” Norris said. “They need to know what is popular and be sure any update blends throughout the home.

Consistency is important or you will get a cartoon.”

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Home & Garden

5 Ways to Refresh Your Home for Spring FAMILY FEATURES

Spring is a time for renewal and awakenings. It’s also the perfect time to take your cues from Mother Nature and devise a plan to reduce and reimagine your way to a refreshing, updated home you can fully enjoy once more.

Reorganize cluttered areas • If a room (or rooms) in your house are in disarray, start by reorganizing those often-used spaces to give them a like-new look and feel.

Begin by removing everything from the room - including the furniture, if you’re able - and separate your belongings into boxes or piles based on what you plan to put back in the room, move to another location and throw away or donate. Once you’ve cleaned the space, resituate the necessary furniture then place items

you’re keeping back in their places in tidy fashion so they’re easy to locate.

Eliminate the extras • While you’re freshening up the house, it’s the perfect time to purge unwanted and unused items, but remember that items in good condition can actually do good for those in need. By donating clothing, electronics, furniture, household goods and vehicles to be sold in The Salvation Army Family and Thrift Stores, you can help transform lives in your local community. A good rule of thumb: if you haven’t used it in the last year and it doesn’t have special sentimental value, it’s probably time to let it go.

Get rid of grime • A whole season’s worth of dirt and dust accumulates during the cold winter months. A deep clean inside and out can restore your home to

its former glory. Inside, take time to launder all of your linens, including curtains, rugs and bedding.

Move furniture to vacuum behind and below, and don’t overlook dust and dirt magnets like mirrors, light fixtures and the insides of cabinets, especially higher shelves that see infrequent use. Outdoors, hose off or power-wash surfaces like windows, siding, decks and concrete to restore a crisp, clean appearance.

Revise for real life • If there’s an area of your home that isn’t quite working for your lifestyle, spring cleaning is the perfect opportunity to make a change. That may mean reconfiguring furniture for a more functional living room or converting an underused guest room into a useful craft or project space.

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will make the space more practical, and even sketch out some possibilities on paper to fine-tune your ideas before you get to work.

Discover new decor • A spring refresh is about more than just decluttering and cleaning, it’s about giving new life to your home with new decor, accessories and artwork. One affordable option: seek out unexpected treasures by shopping for great bargains at thrift stores.

The proceeds from the sale of items found at shops like The Salvation Army Thrift and Family Stores go to help those in need, and it’s one simple way to update your decor without spending a fortune.

• Visit SATruck.org to schedule a donation pick-up or find a thrift store near you.

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Home & Garden

March 29, 2018

PAINT & CURB APPEAL matter when selling your home

PAM PECCOLO/SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Fresh paint has a way of making a home look new inside and out. The transformation can be helpful if you feel the need for an updated look or are thinking it’s time to sell your home.

But painting may not be necessary for every homeowner who wants to sell. Painting needs to be kept in context with all the other updates or improvements that might be planned.

“Painting is important for resale, but it’s not necessary in every case,” said Kevin Salley, co-owner of the The Prevail Group, a Littleton-based real estate firm.

Kevin specializes in working with clients selling a home, along with his wife, and co-owner, Amy Salley, who helps home buyers.

“We discourage people from painting a house unless the color is poor, the paint is faded, cracked and peeling, or

there is significant damage that needs to be fixed and then painted,” Kevin added.

“When it comes to paint color, we don’t recommend that you go too trendy. If selling, pick a color that appeals to the masses. Warm grays are very popular and we’re really liking Worldly Gray from SherwinWilliams,” Amy said. “It works with a range of finishes and colors, including black, brown, gold, stainless steel and chrome.”

Add curb appeal value to your home Curb appeal is the initial, first impression people experience when they drive up to a home and look around.

“You can’t put a dollar value on curb appeal,” said Kevin. “Before people even go in the house, buyers look at the style of the house, at whether the yard is clean and tidy, and if the

landscaping is well manicured. About 60 percent of customers look at the neighbors’ yards to evaluate what they think of the neighborhood.”

Today, most buyers have some sense of the house and street they’re interested in by looking at Google Earth and its street views.

“So, we highly recommend sellers finish all the home improvements and painting before a property is listed,” Kevin added.

Amy said even homes that aren’t as up-to-date can be beautiful because buyers are looking for a home that has been well maintained.

“If you have a bathroom with 10-year-old, flowery, yellow wallpaper, having that removed and painted can update the space and help it look more contemporary,” Amy said.

Getting a return on your home improvement

Both buyers and sellers frequently think the cost of home improvements and painting will be more expensive than it should be.

“A lot of sellers think updates to their home will cost thousands of dollars,” Kevin said. “But, improvements should typically run from $2 to $2.50 per square foot.”

A good real estate agent can assess improvements needed to sell a home and recommend the ones that will have the greatest value.

“One time, we had a client who had replaced his home’s furnace because he thought that would help sell his house,” Kevin said. “He came to us after he’d made the replacement, and we had to tell him when he sold his home he probably wouldn’t get that equal value out of the house because some things, like furnaces, are not changes that generate a great return.”

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Spring Cleaning

Home & Garden

Disposal Recycling Ideas PAM PECCOLO/ SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

As spring arrives, thoughts often turn to ways to spruce up the home with spotless windows, dust-free ceiling fans and squeaky-clean counter tops and mirrors.

But then there’s the basement, garage, attic and closets. What’s to be done with things like unwanted paint, an old computer or a rusted lawn chairs?

Proper chemical and paint disposal Spring cleaning can be a great opportunity to clean out the house and garage, but — for safety reasons ­— household chemicals and paint should not be thrown out in the garbage.

“It’s very important not to put chemicals or paint in a curbside container or include them in your garbage,” said Jennifer Rivera, spokesperson for Waste Management of Colorado. “The concern is they can cause an explosion in your container or at the waste facility.”

Rivera recommends checking with city and county resources to find local programs that collect and dispose of chemicals and paint.

PaintCare can find a new home for old paint In addition, used paint can find a new home through events hosted

by PaintCare, a national nonprofit organization that represents paint manufacturers through paint

stewardship programs. Since being founded in 2009, PaintCare has collected more than 22 million gallons of paint across nine states, saving it from going into landfills.

“It’s estimated that a total of 78 million gallons of paint is left over each year in the U.S.,” said Brett Rodgers, director of communications for PaintCare. “We’re addressing this problem and look forward to another year of active participation in Colorado.”

The next free Paintcare Drop-Off event will be held on Saturday, April 28, in Thornton. For more details, and other PaintCare events, visit the website at www.paintcare.org.

Retailers that work with PaintCare in Colorado may also organize paint-gathering events. Some local retailers that participate in the programs include:

• Ace Hardware • JAX Outdoor Gear • Diamond Vogel • PPG Paints • Guiry’s • Sherwin-Williams

Electronic device disposal Old computers, televisions and other home electronics cannot be disposed of in landfills in Colorado because the electronic components contain heavy metals like lead, and other harmful elements that can contaminate soil and groundwater.

To dispose of e-waste, you can: • Check online to find out if the product’s

manufacturer offers a recycling program.

• Contact your local government agency to see if

there are special disposal days or dropoff locations for used electronics in your area.

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Home & Garden

March 29, 2018

Top Trends

to inspire your outdoor living

BRANDPOINT Outdoor living spaces rank first among special function rooms desired by consumers, according to the American Institute for Architects, and so homeowners are expected to be going all-in for the outdoors in 2018.

Trex Company, a maker of premium decking and railing, has gleaned insights from contractors, homeowners and industry experts to compile the following outdoor living trends that will dominate this year: Year-round enjoyment Among the biggest trends is a shift away from seasonality as consumers adopt more of a year-round mindset,

no longer restricting outdoor living to spring and summer. Thanks to new high-performance materials and innovative design approaches, homeowners everywhere are transforming their outdoor spaces into multi-seasonal extensions of their homes. For example, Trex contractors have reported an uptick in requests for its RainEscape deck drainage system by clients looking to add multi-seasonal living space underneath an elevated deck.

Minimal maintenance, maximum enjoyment Just because people are spending more time outdoors doesn’t mean they’re willing to put in extra hours for upkeep. In fact, high-maintenance

materials like wood are seeing a

decrease in demand as people are

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food and drink spills wash off easily with just soap and water.

Comfy cozy Among the hottest design influences right now is “hygge” (pronounced hoo-gah) — the Scandinavian term for a feeling of SEE OUTDOOR, P9

March 29, 2018

SPRING

OUTDOOR FROM PAGE 8

coziness and comfort. This year, outdoor spaces will beckon homeowners and their guests to relax and rejuvenate with hygge-inspired accents, from plush cushions and throws to protective pergolas, cozy warming features and outdoor lighting.

Residential goes commercial While railing matched to the decking remains popular, an increasing number of homeowners are taking advantage of the complementary decking and railing pairings afforded by new railing materials in modern, metal finishes, as well as sleek designs inspired by commercial architecture.

More homeowners are inspired by outdoor spaces they find in commercial settings, such as hotels and urban rooftops, and want to replicate those looks in their homes. A prime example of this commercial-to-residential trend is the growing popularity of horizontal railings such as rod rail a sleek, industrial look that’s ideal for optimizing a panoramic view.

Home & Garden

9

Hide and chic With the increased usage of outdoor living spaces comes higher demand for chic decor and privacy. An easy design trick that adds personal style and functionality, lattice panels are perfect for enhancing privacy and concealing storage areas or unsightly views. With styles ranging from romantic to deco, lattice panels can be integrated into any outdoor area and applied to structures such as arbors, trellises and gazebos, or used as decorative wainscoting or deck skirting.

Fun and games Kids are not the only ones who enjoy playing outside. Outdoor play spaces for all ages are on the rise, including everything from swimming pools and embedded sandboxes to regulation cornhole courts, horseshoe pits and dedicated spaces for volleyball, badminton and bocce ball.

Beyond yard games, electronics manufacturers now offer televisions and entertainment systems specifically designed for the outdoors, taking into consideration differences in lighting and outdoor acoustics. Meanwhile, new storage options include

durable wall-mounted television and entertainment centers that beautifully protect pricey electronics from the elements, while concealing all of the unsightly — and potentially unsafe — cords and cables.

For more information about outdoor living trends, go to www.trex.com

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Community gardens

March 29, 2018

growing in popularity for all ages

JULIE A. TAYLOR SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA Community gardens in the Denver Metro Area are growing in popularity for many different reasons. Some gardeners like the therapeutic effects, while others enjoy growing their own produce. Denver Urban Gardens, a non-profit organization that helps with startup and operation of community gardens, is the force behind many of these community plots throughout the region.

Rose Roots, an organic Arvada garden, started with a simple request to the city. A group of locals asked if they could use an empty field as a garden, orchard and community-supported agriculture

farm. Named after the Rose family for homesteading the land, Rose Roots became the flagship community agriculture project for both the city and Jefferson County.

Jeffco Open Space granted the city $175,000 to install water lines, fencing, sidewalks and other necessary infrastructure.

Members pay $75 for a square, 15-foot plot, which includes water, compost, motorized tillers and tools.

However, they also have raised plots for those with disabilities at $35.

Altogether, Rose Roots has 132 plots, with a waiting list in place for the upcoming growing season.

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Gina Schley Lavender works in a community garden, learning about the soil, proper ways to transplant and taking part in what’s becoming a popular activity in the Denver Metro Area.

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Many businesses and organizations have donated to the program, but their largest grant was $15,000 from the Colorado Garden Foundation, which receives money from the Colorado Home and Garden Show.

Want To Join?

Interested in joining or starting a community garden? Contact Denver Urban Gardens at dug.org

FROM PAGE 10

backgrounds flock to the garden, and they often donate food to Community Table, formerly known as Arvada Food Bank. Some plots are dedicated to the food bank, and last year the organization donated more than 2,000 pounds of vegetables.

Get on the Rose Roots waitlist by emailing membership@ roserootsgardens.com

“The school garden has thrived. We have a garden curriculum that we use each spring,” Glist said.

Get on the Aurora Mental Health Center waitlist by emailing jordanglist@aumhc.org

“We also like to have fun,” said Lisa Langley, communications chair and founding member. “We fire up the gas grill for community work nights and have an end-of-the-season harvest party.”

Langley believes digging in the dirt is therapeutic, and she’s not alone in that train of thought.

Jordan Glist, the dean of students at Hampden Academy in Aurora, spends time and thought on his horticulture program designed for high school students with mental health disorders.

He says this is one way to help prepare

his students to return to public school.

Their garden center is a collaboration between students and community members, and they also operate under the Denver Urban Gardens umbrella.

In 2010, the students built a single bed, and Glist recognized the value in giving the children hands-on experience in nature.

“Kids struggle in some settings, but they really thrived when their hands were in the soil,” Glist said. “It was therapeutic.”

He also integrates life lessons into their gardening curriculum, creating a metaphor with transplants, and teaching students that plants can’t go straight from the greenhouse to outside.

Comparing the plant transplants to his own students, Glist said after learning in the soil, he asks his students to also transition from this environment and go back to public schools.

Some of the high school students’ favorite plants are squash, kale, which often will overwinter so it doesn’t need to be replanted the next year, and cherry tomatoes, because they can eat them right off the vine. Glist said the

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Any vegetables that are not eaten during harvest go into a community cooler, or the cafeteria’s kitchen. The children even created a cookbook full of recipes they could make in the microwave or toaster oven, including jalepeno poppers.

This community garden is also full for the spring, but Glist encourages those longing for fresh produce to join the waitlist.

“Community members that get involved tend to stay because they like the healing aspect of our garden,” Glist said. “For a lot of folks, that’s their therapy, where they find healing.”

Anyone interested in developing a community garden can do so by contacting Denver Urban Gardens at dug.org.

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4 ways hardscapes can add value to your home BRANDPOINT Outdoor hardscape projects add resale value to a home as well as bring extra enjoyment to homeowners while they are living in the home, according to the “Remodeling Impact Report: Outdoor Features” by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP).

The report confirms that investing in landscaping and hardscaping is a winwin, whether you plan to stay in your home or prepare it for market.

“This report validates that outdoor remodeling and landscaping improvements are a necessity when it comes to improving your home’s resale value,” said Missy Henriksen, NALP vice president of public affairs. “Homeowners working with a landscape professional to embark on renovations — whether that means enhancing their turf and growing a lush lawn, overhauling their entire landscape, or incorporating new features like patios or exterior fireplaces — can

rest assured that they are making a smart, worthwhile investment.”

Curb appeal Real estate agents suggest that a home’s first impression is paramount when preparing it for sale. Simple updates such as adding retaining wall units or paving stone edging around gardens add value and curb appeal.

More ambitious projects like a front paving stone entrance with patio and a seat wall or two add major curb appeal plus the enjoyment factor from adding a beautiful, functional front yard.

Varying hardscape colors and textures in the front outdoor living space lends maximum visual appeal. Hardscapes also can make routine maintenance easier, such as creating a tree ring from retaining wall units and surrounding it with pavers to reduce the need for trimming after mowing.

Making unusable space usable A family in Maple Grove, Minnesota, had a hill behind their home that

sloped down to a pond. They knew that excavating would be required and contacted Villa Landscapes in St. Paul to help them decide how best to make use of the space.

“The Versa-Lok Standard retaining wall system was perfect for retaining the soil behind the garage when we excavated to create their outdoor living space,” said Lonny Sekeres, a designer with Villa Landscapes. “There are no voids in the units to backfill, and the top-down pinning system made the installation easy. By back-splitting the retaining wall units, we easily created matching freestanding seat walls around the fire feature area too. Plus, the same unit was used to create columns that provide a base for a pergola while giving a nice definition to the outdoor living space.”

Prevent erosion Damage to your property can devalue a home plus create major headaches.

Retaining wall systems are essential in preventing erosion, controlling grade changes in a yard, and preventing

damage to the landscape, and in certain environments, even damage to your home.

One homeowner in Apple Valley, Minnesota, had a steep, unusable backyard that sloped toward the home’s foundation. Over the years, water damage to the foundation occurred.

“The negative flow caused water damage, a leaky foundation and the accumulation of dirt that had been eroding down the slope for years,” said Paul Devine, owner and principal of Devine Design Hardscapes in Rosemount, Minnesota. “There was no flat, usable area at the base of the hill, and the client had never been able to grow grass because of constant erosion.

The Versa-Lok wall design created a positive flow away from the home’s foundation, steps to the top of the hill, and a flat, usable area for a backyard.”

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• 303-279-1910 • www.schulhofftlc.com

Licensed • insured

March 29, 2018

SPRING

Home & Garden

Farmer’s Market Directory Looking for the freshest fruits and vegetables?

Consider a local farmer’s market this spring

Aurora: Mountain of Fire and Miracles ∙ Sun. 9 a.m. to 12:30 ∙ 16764 E. Iliff Avenue, Aurora, CO 80013 ∙ Phone: 303∙283∙6470 Our Lady of Loreto ∙ 18000 E Arapahoe Rd, Aurora, CO 80016 ∙ Phone: 303∙375∙5853 Aurora Inter Church Task Force ∙ By phone appointment only; Mon., Tues., Wed. and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. ∙ 1553 Clinton St., Aurora, CO 80010 ∙ Phone: 303∙360∙0260 ∙ Must live with the city of Aurora and show photo ID and proof of address. Clothing bank and utility assistance when available.

Peace With Christ Lutheran Church ∙ 2nd Saturday of every month starting at 2 p.m. ∙ 3290 S. Tower Rd., Aurora, CO 80013 ∙ Phone: 303∙375∙5853 Catholic Charities Little Flower ∙ Mon., Wed., Thurs., 9:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. ∙ 11149 E. 14th Ave., Aurora, CO 80010 ∙ Phone: 303∙360∙9686 ∙ Clothing, job search assistance, and money management also available.

Our Lady of Loreto Catholic Church ∙ 4th Saturday of every month starting at 2 p.m. ∙ 18000 E Arapahoe Rd, Aurora, CO 80016 ∙ Phone: 303∙375∙5853 Colorado Community Church ∙ 2nd & 4th Wednesday starting at 3 p.m. ∙ 2220 S. Chambers, Aurora, CO 80014 ∙ Phone: 303∙375∙5853 Castle Rock: St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church ∙ 4th Saturday of the month, 9 a.m. ∙ 2746 5th St, Castle Rock, CO 80104 ∙ Phone: 303∙375∙5853 Centennial: Hope Starts Here Food Bank ∙ Saturday 6:30 to 10:30 a.m. ∙ 20050 E. Smoky Hill Rd., Centennial, CO 80015 ∙ Phone: 303∙328∙3464

Englewood: HOPE Helping our People Excel ∙ Mon. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Fri. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. ∙ 3940 S Broadway, Englewood, CO 80113 ∙ Phone: 303∙762∙7986 Cornerstone Food Bank ∙ Mon. 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., (for the disabled and working parents only, must show a current paycheck stub) Tues.

1 p.m. to 3 p.m. ∙ Englewood Bible Church, 3190 S. Grant St., Englewood, CO 80113 ∙ Phone: 720•229∙2336 The Salvation Army ∙ Need picture ID, proof of address, and birth certificates for children. May use pantry once every 30 days. ∙ Mon., Wed., Fri., noon to 4 p.m. ∙ 3460 S. Sherman St. #202, Englewood, CO 80113 ∙ Phone: 303∙761∙6111 Denver First Church of the Nazarene ∙ Tue., Thurs. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. ∙ 3800 E. Hampden Ave., Englewood, CO 80113 ∙ Phone: 303∙761∙8370 Integrated Family Community Services ∙ Mon. 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Tues. 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Wed. 8:30 a.m. to noon, Thurs. 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Fri. 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. ∙ 3370 S. Irving St., Englewood, CO 80110 ∙ Phone: 303∙789∙0501 Denver Inner City Parish ∙ One free bag of emergency food. There may also be Christmas meals or small gifts for the elderly or children as well as single moms. ∙ 2830 S. Zuni St., Englewood, CO 80110 ∙ Phone: 303∙629∙7703 Franktown: Living Water Christian Church ∙ 2nd Friday of every month starting at 10:30 a.m. ∙ 7049 E. Park Dr., Franktown, CO 80116 ∙ Phone: 303∙375∙5853 Greenwood Village: Covenant Cupboard Food Pantry ∙ Friday 1 to 4 p.m. ∙ Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, 5400 South

Yosemite Street, Greenwood Village, CO 80111 ∙ Phone: 720∙841∙5129 Littleton: Grace Point Community Church ∙ First and third Fridays 4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. ∙ 90 East Orchard Road, Littleton, CO 80121 ∙ Phone: 303∙798∙6387 Life Center ∙ Tues., 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wed. 10 a.m. to noon ∙ 804 S Datura St, Littleton, CO 80120 ∙ Phone: 303∙953∙7180 St. James Presbyterian Church ∙ 4th Wednesday of the month 9 a.m. ∙ 3601 W. Belleview Ave, Littleton, CO 80123 ∙ Phone: 303∙375∙5853 Pax Christi Catholic Church ∙ 2nd and 4th Tuesday at 11 a.m. ∙ 5761 McArthur Ranch Rd, Littleton, CO 80124 ∙ Phone: 303∙375∙5853 Open Arms Food Bank ∙ CSFP Distribution: Seniors: 60 and over and must meet income requirements∙can be from any county. If you have a medical condition that makes you homebound, we can deliver to you, please contact Kelly Bacher at 303∙375∙5816. ∙ Tues. 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. ∙ 6500 W. Coalmine Ave., Littleton, CO 80123 ∙ Phone: 720∙288∙0155 Mission Hills Church ∙ 2nd Wednesday, 9 a.m. ∙ 5814 S Datura, Littleton, CO 80120 ∙ Phone: 303∙375∙5853 Parker: Parker Task Force Food Bank ∙ Open Tues., Wed., Fri., Sat. from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. ∙ 19105 Longs Way Parker, CO 80134 ∙ Phone: 303∙841∙3460 SECOR ∙ Open Wed. from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thurs. from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Fri. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. ∙ 16965 Pine Lane Suite 100, Parker, CO 80134 ∙ Phone: 720∙842∙5621

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SPRING

Home & Garden

March 29, 2018

Survey Says:

Messy garages stand in the way of Americans pursuing their passions BRANDPOINT Americans would love more time to pursue hobbies they’re passionate about, and time-drains like disorganized garages are a big obstacle to doing the activities they enjoy, according to a new survey conducted by Gladiator and Kelton Global.

Eighty-four percent of Americans surveyed would like more time for their passions, and nearly 40 percent said a lack of time was standing in the way, the study found. Instead of partaking in hobbies like adventure sports, arts, reading, music and gardening, Americans are spending more time running errands (41 percent) and even catching up on much-needed rest (44 percent).

Americans’ passions Hobbies aren’t just for fun in the minds of most Americans, the survey found.

In fact, respondents say their passions help them maintain happiness and relieve stress. Fifty-nine percent say engaging in their favorite activities is a

stress-reliever for them. What’s more, many feel their hobbies help define who they are; 24 percent of adventure seekers associate their hobbies with their self-identity.

What’s getting in the way While a lack of time is a significant obstacle to Americans’ pursuit of their passions, it’s not the only one.

According to survey respondents, other factors standing in the way include:

• Not having enough money

(49 percent) • Other priorities, such as family (39 percent) • Work obligations (23 percent) • Resting (44 percent) • Cleaning and organizing their home (34 percent) Sacrificing for passions When it comes to finding more time to pursue their passions, Americans are willing to go to great lengths. More than a third of the working Americans

surveyed leave work early to engage in hobbies, and 27 percent would take a sick day.

Survey respondents say if they could have more time for their hobbies, they also would be willing to:

• Sacrifice an hour of sleep every night for a month (25 percent)

• Give up coffee for a month (25 percent)

• Get a tattoo (15 percent) • Wear something silly in public (17 percent)

• Spend an extra half hour per day stuck in traffic (11 percent)

• Give up their cell phones for a month (12 percent)

Solutions instead of sacrifice Many Americans understand disorganization can cut into time they would like to spend on other pursuits, including their hobbies. Of course, the gear, supplies and equipment needed for hobbies like outdoor sports, electronics and arts and crafts often

get stored in garages. Getting help with garage organization could free up time for Americans to do the things they really love.

Gladiator recently launched nine new GearTrack(R) Packs designed to make it easier for Americans to organize all the accoutrements that they need to pursue their passions. Building off the original GearTrack(R) Pack, each custom kit features a unique set of hooks, baskets and storage spaces designed to accommodate items for different activities such as gardening, bicycling, basketball, football, baseball, sports bags and golf gear. Visit GladiatorGarageWorks.com to learn more.

Study was conducted by Kelton Global, a leading global insights research firm, between April 12-16, 2017 among 3,127 Americans ages 18+ with a margin of error of +/- 1.8.

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March 29, 2018

SPRING

Clearing clutter?

Home & Garden

Include closets!

JULIE A. TAYLOR/SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Maybe the bedroom closet has accumulated a season’s worth of new things, or maybe it was stuffed with random items in an effort to clean up before in-laws arrived. Whatever the case, closet expert Polly Lestikow urges everyone to clean out their walk-ins at least twice a year.

Lestikow, who co-owns the Closet Factory Denver franchise with her husband, works with organization gurus as she gives customers spaces that work with their lifestyles.

Over the last 20 years, she has picked up excellent tips for de-cluttering.

“I think the first step is getting yourself mentally prepared,” Lestikow said. “You have to be ruthless giving things away.”

Women and men both cling to certain things.

Lestikow has seen plenty of high heels that the owner can no longer wear. Sometimes it’s because of age, but others are cases where moms are holding onto the shoes and business attire with the expectation that they will go back to work someday.

“But by the time they do go back to work it will be outdated, or won’t fit them,” Lestikow said.

And men get attached for sentimental reasons. A great golf game might equal a new favorite golf hat.

“Pretty soon you’ve got 30 hats for 30 different reasons. Get rid of that stuff,” she said.

The biggest offenders are stockpiles of

A cluttered closet is just as stressful as a cluttered household.

Polly Lestikow, of the Closet Factory franchise in Denver stresses spring cleaning should include the walk-in closet.

SHUTTERSTOCK

collector’s items, sentimental things and clothes that no longer fit. To start clearing the clutter, make four piles. One pile to donate, one to throwaway, keep and one for alterations. Use the following tips when deciding what goes in each pile: Donate

If you haven’t worn it during its proper season, it needs to go. However, there’s a couple caveats. If it doesn’t fit well, or there’s a tear along the seam, set it in the alteration pile. If it’s designer quality and in good shape, consider consigning it instead of donating. Lestikow drops off high-end fashion for her clients at local consignment shops frequently, and they sometimes choose to give the payout to a charity instead of taking the cash.

“We keep things for sentimental reasons, or because we spent a lot of money on it,” Lestikow said. “But the sooner you consign or donate [clothes], the more worthwhile. No one will wear a suit that’s outdated.”

Throwaway If the colors are faded, or the piece is too damaged to be saved by a tailor, toss it out.

Keep As you sort through the things you wore at least once in the last six months, put them on a

new set of matching hangers, which will give your wardrobe continuity. Group items by details like sleeve length and within those groups, by color.

By limiting the clothing selection to favorite colors, it helps to keep outfits coordinated.

Alterations When items are too long or have a defect as simple as a missing button, chances are that piece of clothing will get shoved to the back of the closet. Send this stack to the tailors.

If this process of clearing out closest is overwhelming because of time or for sentimental reasons, consider seeking help from one of the professionals listed on National Association of Productivity and Organizing, at napo.net.

Once the purging is complete, set up a foolproof organization system, like Closet Factory’s line of built-ins to avoid falling back into disorganization.

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SPRING

Home & Garden

March 29, 2018

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