Spring Home & Garden 2017

A special supplement of

spring 2017

Composting Tips Good for going green Page 4

Raised Garden Beds Practical and accessible Page 6

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Home & Garden

March 30, 2017

2017

spring 2017

Table of Contents Owner/Publisher

JERRY HEALEY Advertising Sales ERIN ADDENBROOKE

DAWN BRANDT

MARCIA GRESTY

ANN-MARIE MEYN

MINDY NELON

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BARB STOLTE Production Manager ERIN FRANKS Advertising Design LISA ALLISON

BRANDON EAKER

TINA MELTZER To advertise call:

303-566-4100

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Page Content

4. COMPOSTING TIPS 6. RAISED GARDENING BEDS 7. POLLINATOR GARDENING 8. HOME DESIGN TRENDS 10. SUCCULENTS 12. HARDSCAPING 18. TREE BUYING TIPS 20. TRANSFORMING SMALL SPACES

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March 30, 2017

2017

WHY THROW AWAY ALL OF THOSE LEAVES?

COMPOSTING GOOD FOR GOING GREEN AND GREEN THUMBS ALIKE

By Tom Skelley

A

s home gardeners look for ways to rely on themselves more and on landfills less, composting has grown in popularity in Colorado.

According to the Colorado State University Extension website, composting reduces yard waste by 50 to 75 percent and adds moisture and nutrients to Colorado’s clay-based soil.

And the ingredients to get started are all around.

“Banana peels, coffee grounds…most of the foods that we just throw in the garbage, or the garbage disposal, will compost,” said veteran composter Ernie Cochrane, adding that many people add yard and garden waste to the mix.

“Why throw away all of those leaves when you can compost them?” he said.

Cochrane, a sales associate at Today’s Nursery in Parker, built a large compost pile on his Elizabeth ranch using railroad ties and chicken wire years ago to cut down on plant waste and “go green.”

Using the compost on his vegetable garden doubled its yield and greatly reduced trips to the landfill, he said.

Compost bins can be made of nearly any size from wood planks to metal barrels with holes punched in the sides to pre-made plastic bins. Cochrane said the best

Ernie Cochrane stands atop a heap of mixed mulch and plant parts used at Today’s nursery in Parker to wrap tree saplings.

Cochrane says the most important thing for beginners to remember about composting is to keep the size of the project manageable and to not get overwhelmed. Photo by Tom Skelley

thing for a beginning composter is not to think too big. mixed, manually, a process that can be physically demanding, depending on the amount.

“Start simple, start small,” he said. “The key is The whole point is to create a simple, environmentally whatever you do, make sure you’ll use it.” friendly way to help flowers and vegetables grow. That’s Once enough material is collected, three keys exist to important to remember, Cochrane said, when deciding building a good compost heap, Cochrane said: air flow, how big of a composting project to undertake. temperature control and layering.

“The bottom line is it’s good to do, but don’t overwhelm Open heaps or those with chicken wire walls get all the yourself,” he said. “Build only what you think you will use oxygen they need. But in a closed bin, it’s important to — even if that’s just a bucket.” open the lid frequently or ensure that air vents and holes are unblocked.

Heat is critical to generating the chemical reactions needed to break down compost, and a minimum of six to eight hours of exposure to sunlight are recommended to keep temperatures hot and consistent. According to the CSU Extension website on composting, temperatures between 120 and 130 degrees Fahrenheit are optimal.

Layering can be done by adding soil or peat moss between layers of plant waste or refuse, although CSU’s website states composting also can be done without soil layers. A crucial factor is the depth of the layers, which should be between 6 and 8 inches for most plant waste, and 2 inches for fine green material Veteran composter Ernie Cochrane grabs a handful of mulch-based compost. such as grass clippings.

Cochrane has used everything from horse manure to banana peels in a The layers then need to be turned, or compost heap at his Elizabeth ranch. Photo by Tom Skelley

IF YOU COMPOST

TIPS ON MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUE FOR EFFECTIVE COMPOSTING

Materials:

Bins and/or heaps:

• Use equal parts dry and moist plant matter for the 6- to 8-inch layers of compost.

• For fine plant waste like grass clippings, use only 2-inch layers to prevent matting.

• Add water to the compost after every few layers.

• Avoid using manure or pet waste if the compost will be used on edible vegetables.

• Avoid using plant material treated with weed killer.

• While either can produce good compost, bins are recommended for populated areas.

• Use or construct a bin only as large as you will need.

• Place the bin in an area with partial shade to avoid excessive drying.

• Position the bin or heap near the area it will be used.

Online how-to links:

How-to videos on composting can be found on the Tagawa Gardens website at: tagawagardens.com/home-tagawa-gardens.html. The full instructional printout referenced in this article can be found at the Colorado State Extension website at: extension.colostate.edu/ topic-areas/yard-garden/composting-yard-waste-7-212.

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FRUSTRATED BY COLORADO GARDENING? TRY RAISED GARDEN BEDS

By Stephanie Mason efore moving to Colorado, Trisha Nungester had grown flowers for six years simply to add beauty and color to her surroundings. Here, she wanted to take a practical approach to gardening and grow vegetables.

“I wanted to go out and get the freshest vegetables,” Nungester said. “I wanted to know what was grown and how it was grown and get varieties of vegetables that you cannot get at the grocery store.”

But after planting her seeds, a problem soon became apparent.

“We have bad, clay soil,” Nungester said, explaining how her plants struggled to survive.

Nungester decided to try gardening in a raised garden bed. She added her own soil, and has not looked back since.

Fourteen years and seven raised garden boxes later, Nungester is growing tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, green beans, corn, potatoes, beets, squash, pumpkins and many other vegetables.

Raised garden beds are large, soil-filled boxes used for gardening, said Beth Zwinak, lifelong gardener and manager of Tagawa Gardens at 7711 S. Parker Road in Centennial. Raised beds are popular in urban areas and in places where the natural soil lacks nutrients.

“It is raised off the ground,” Zwinak said, “and, because you control what goes into that box, the soil is better.”

B

Garden beds, typically 4 feet by 6 feet in size, offer many benefits: Fewer weeds, easier accessibility for people with mobility problems, more plants in a single space and a portable box that can be moved for more or less sunlight.

In Colorado, many plants struggle to stay alive because of inconsistent weather, intense sunlight and high elevation. Many plants still grow in the climate, with tomatoes and peppers being popular hardy options, Zwinak said. She warned against planting anything that takes 90 or more days to reach maturity because Colorado’s growing season is not long enough.

With so many plants in one small space, Zwinak advises researching what plants pair well with others.

Tomatoes, marigolds and basil team well because a marigold’s scent and bright color draw attention away from the tomato, and basil pairs well with a tomato’s flavor.

Tomatoes

Garden beds also are a good option for urban gardeners who have no yard space but have a patio, rooftop or balcony receiving at least six hours of sunlight, Zwinak said.

The only way to discover what kind of raised flowerbed gardening works best is to experiment and not become over-ambitious.

“The best thing to do is to start small,” Zwinak said.

“Try a few things and see how they work in your garden and in your lifestyle.”

Marigolds

Basil Above: Try teaming tomatoes with marigolds and basil. Left: Raised gardening boxes, like this one, allow you to control the soil.

Photos by Shutterstock

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URBAN GARDEN BEDS HELP BEES THRIVE The buzz word flying from one urban garden bed to another is “pollinator gardening,” or gardening with the purpose of providing food for bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.

“Pollinator gardening is really popular right now,” said Beth Zwinak of Tagawa Gardens. “A lot of pollinators are losing habitats because of development.”

Caitlin Rose Kenney, a beekeeper for the Union Station rooftop beehives in downtown Denver and owner

of Boulder Bee Yards in Boulder, says that bees can fly up to a six-mile radius in search of pollen and nectar.

The urban trend of raised garden boxes has helped her hives’ production.

“They are not going to rely entirely on planted things… but it for sure helps them,” Kenney said. “Any natural source of organic plants is going to be good for them.”

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2017

THE HOME DESIGN TREND YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT

W

ith the new year underway, the housing world is buzzing about the next transformative trend in home design and remodeling. This year it seems certain the growing trend of mixing and layering materials, something many designers and architects noticed was growing in popularity over the past few years, will dominate the remodeling and design scene.

When it comes to mixing materials, there’s no rule book: All you should do is find a combination to match your personality. This might be one of the biggest reasons why people have taken to mixing materials, as it truly allows you to create a home that is uniquely yours.

BOLD AND INNOVATIVE The most immediate effect of mixing materials is that it opens new possibilities and new ways of expression.

An example of this can be likened to how hard stone surfaces in a room can be complemented by soft carpet and furniture, or how the highly textured wood on a ceiling can stand in stark contrast to polished stone. Some of the hottest looks today, such as the blending of unfinished industrial materials with modern floors and cabinets, would have been considered outlandish only a few years ago. Mixing materials gives you greater freedom to create a space that represents your style.

STYLE ON A BUDGET Of all the rooms in a home, kitchens and bathrooms still get the most attention. Unfortunately, getting that dream kitchen or perfect bathroom isn’t always inexpensive.

For those who have uncompromising taste, but are on a budget, mixing materials is the ideal solution. For instance, say you had your heart set on a marble island and surrounding countertops, but just can’t afford marble.

Instead, you can choose from a variety of Wilsonart® Quartz for the island. Engineered to showcase the erratic veins and patterns prized in marble, quartz also has the advantage of being non-porous, so it won’t stain and requires virtually no maintenance.

A timeless look that continues to win the popularity contest are nature’s neutrals in white, grey and black, offering flexibility to play with bold or demure colorful accents.

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This material is tough, non-porous, seamless and repairable without sacrificing beauty. With a wide variety of styles replicating stone, you can easily mix it with other material looks to make an intriguing statement.

To explore hundreds of options, visit www.wilsonart.com and start mixing materials to see what’s possible in your home. -Brandpoint

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2017 SPRING Home & Garden

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2017

SUCCULENTS: GOOD-LOOKING AND EASY TO CARE FOR SUCCULENT TREND IS A RESULT OF CONVENIENCE, SOCIAL MEDIA

By Alex DeWind

S

ucculents, the leafy plants that come in unique shapes and eye-opening colors, have gained popularity in recent times for a number of reasons, including convenience, climate and social media.

Dakota Jones, indoor-house plant technician of Tagawa Gardens in Parker, said the root system of a succulent is small and doesn’t need to be watered often.

Above all, the type of plant is easy to care for.

Jones recommends giving the plant a good soaking every one or two weeks.

“Think as if they are in their natural habitat,” Jones said, standing beside a bed of bright pink succulents. “They don’t get water until a flash flood comes around.”

According to Jon Gerber, sales manager at Today’s Nursery in Parker, succulents have been popular in the landscaping world for decades. They work well for xeriscaping — landscaping designed for high-desert climates that requires less water.

Highlands Ranch resident Morgan Steele said she keeps her succulents on her windowsill.

“I’m a bit of a brown thumb,” Steele said, “so they are easy for me to keep alive and require very little maintenance.”

Succulents have thick and fleshy leaves so they can withstand dry soil and dry climates, according to Lowes Home Improvement. They should be kept in an area that receives about six to eight hours of sunlight per day and watered about once a week in the summer and twice a week in the winter.

Think of a cactus, which is a type of succulent.

“Just like with cars, full-efficiency vehicles are more of a hot topic,” Gerber said.

“Similarly with xeriscaping, it gets to be a lot on people’s minds when we are in a drought.”

Photos by Shutterstock

Today’s Nursery has a wide selection of outdoor succulents, which differ from indoor succulents in that they can withstand

SUCCULENTS CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

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Spotlight On Business

SUCCULENTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

the cold temperatures. The nursery also has five Certified Colorado Nursery Professionals on staff to answer questions.

Succulents can be found at many nurseries and even chain grocery stores, such as Trader Joe’s and King Soopers.

One plant usually averages about $10, give or take depending on the size.

If a social media user searches the word “Succulent” on Pinterest or Instagram, both photo and content-sharing websites, it’s easy to find a colorful array of succulents planted in various arrangements — another reason why the trend has exploded in recent times.

“They’re unique, they don’t look like many other household plants,” Jones said.

“They have pretty colors — pinks, yellows, whites.”

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Individuals can opt for a single succulent, which can be placed in a pot, teacup or other small container. Or they can get creative and build a terrarium, a small glass or plastic box filled with a mini indoor-garden. Terrariums come in a variety of shapes and sizes, such as hanging, circular and rectangular.

Jones said he often has customers show him photos from social media in hopes of replicating the design. Tagawa Gardens has all of the materials — succulents, containers, soil, gravel, moss.

His advice for first time succulentplanters:

“Don’t overthink it. The simpler, the better.”

TRY THESE TYPES OF SUCCULENTS Burro’s Tail

This type of succulent has long leaves with small, green and yellow buds. It works best in a hanging terrarium or pot.

Native to Mexico, it requires medium to high light.

Hens-and-Chicks

This type of succulent resembles a bud with flowerlike leaves and pointed edges.

It comes in rich colors, such as green, purple and pink. It should dry before being re-watering to avoid rotting.

Medicine Plant

Otherwise known as aloe vera, this succulent has healing sap to treat wounds and sunburn. It requires direct sunlight and the soil should dry before re-watering.

Source: Better Homes and Garden, bhg.com/ gardening/houseplants/projects/top-10-succulentsfor-home/

Interview with Renovation Consultant, Mark Horvath

Herald: What is Your Background?

Mark: 40+ years in the home remodel and construction industry. As with most long-term industry professionals, it started when I was young helping maintain two homes with a construction company and farm in the family.

I have my MBA in Accounting and a BS in Business Administration and Economics. In addition, I have completed several certifications including Green Building, QuickBooks, and BQA to help with mini farms and ranches.

Of the forty years, I have worked as a Project Manager, Superintendent, and Contractor in both residential and commercial construction.

My wife and I recently completed a roof down, home remodel allowing us to sell at one of the highest per square foot of $242.38 in the 80123zip code.

Herald: What Services do you provide: Mark: I offer through my company is to be your consumer advocate as a “Renovation Consultant.”

To help guide you through the construction process.

To help educate you on your specific project and what to expect.

To perform an evaluation and provide a written plan to help guide and direct you in achieving your goals and vision for your home whether newly purchased or selling.

To perform on site evaluation of homes you’re interested in purchasing.

To evaluate and provide guidance on specific projects or full project management services.

Herald: What would your clients look like?

Mark: A client who asks questions. They can be a 1st time home buyer, Do-it-Yourselfers (DIY’s), a new purchase, your forever home, and even if you desire a ranchette or mini farm.

As an example, to help the homeowner understand why one home may make a better choice over another. Or, why increasing the investment in an area(s) would be better in the long run versus a select finish or add-on.

Herald: What is the difference between you and the home shows?

Mark: This is a great question. Please recognize that they are TV shows staged to fit an allotted time frame. Therefore, these shows can be ½ reality and ½ construction.

Also, to make them interesting drama is created.

For example, quite often there are “foundation” issues that pop up in the middle of the remodel.

Wouldn’t you have the foundation inspected before buying? The TV show aspect also creates limited assessments that can be misleading.

One Aurora home was evaluated to have

$13,000 dollars of immediate remodel work.

I calculated around $25,000 worth. Having someone like myself can provide value in understanding our weather conditions, building codes, or even our insurance climate here in Colorado relative to your home. Items that folks from out of state would not readily know.

Now, please don’t get me wrong. These shows can be educational for remodeling and regional trends as well as basic remodel processes. Just make sure the information is applicable to your area.

Hopefully we can recognize that the internet and home shows can provide a limited education but, not wisdom or experience. For example, what happens when its 10 pm Friday night and the toilet is leaking in the guest bathroom with family arriving Saturday morning? Is the leak coming from the wall, the tank, or from underneath the toilet? So, you pull the toilet to reseal and find the sewer pipe is cracked and surrounded by concrete. What do you do?

Herald: How does a person value your service?

Mark: One of the best examples of value would be with me helping you plan and manage a 1-2 month kitchen remodel from becoming a 6 month or more project. With the national average kitchen remodel around $36,000, the investment in my service can save you thousands of dollars, time, and/or frustration.

Herald: What is the cost of your service?

Mark: For a full house remodel evaluation it is a flat rate dependent upon the size and value of your home. My scope of work can be customized to reflect your project and vision. Also, we can do so on an hourly basis if your projects are minimal.

If you desire more help, we can create a scope of work that fits your needs.

Herald: What advice can you give our readers?

Mark: Another wonderful question. Don’t forget to laugh! It will help you manage your expectations with your wants, needs, and desires keeping in mind the scope of your project and budget.

Also, de-clutter your home prior to the project start date. Even though the contractor may not have provided a line item in the estimate for working with the clutter, the cost of doing so will be included in the price if they must work around it. I recognize that this is your home, your private place. Yet, we all must let our contractors do their jobs. We must respect their knowledge and experience while giving them access, place to store supplies, and be on time. Now, I’m not saying “give the house away”, but remember we as home owners hired the contractor. Therefore, we can manage our contractor while honoring our contractual obligations allowing them to perform.

Renovation Consultant Remodel Consumer Advocate & Home Project Resource!

Mark L. Horvath FCT, LLC.

720-985-8731 marklhorvath1@gmail.com

www.renovationconsultantfct.com

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BRINGING ‘LIFE OF THE HOME’ TO LANDSCAPING

Photos by Shutterstock

HARDSCAPE LANDSCAPING OFFERS MANY OPTIONS TO CREATE OUTDOOR AREAS

By Christy Steadman

A

lthough some wonderful things can still be done with concrete, hardscape landscaping can offer people many more options than the traditional concrete patios.

“People are wanting to create outdoor spaces more and more these days,” said LeAnn Ostheimer, director of sales and marketing for Lifescape, a full-service design, construction and maintenance landscape architecture firm. “Hardscape brings the life of the home to the landscape.”

People who want to create an outdoor living space tend to choose hardscape landscaping because it provides many options for people, Ostheimer said.

For example, materials include concrete, concrete pavers, natural stone and porcelain tile. It can include ground, vertical and three-dimensional elements. Often, Ostheimer said, people will match their hardscape to the architecture of their home.

“All of it comes in different design styles to fit everyone’s tastes and needs,” Ostheimer said.

Jamie and Jerry Orten chose hardscape for their Golden home because they enjoy spending time outdoors, but also because it is low-maintenance, sustainable and conservation-minded. The couple completed the hardscape landscaping at their home in July last year.

“We’ve got something that we’ll never have to redo in a lifetime,” Jamie Orten said. “And it’s

always usable — year-round.”

She referred to the hardscape landscaping of the back courtyard and front patio as an extension of the home.

Some elements at the Orten home include concrete, a fire pit and a dripline system for metal planters with native Colorado plants that don’t require a lot of water.

Often the Ortens will eat meals and entertain outside, but they also enjoy simply sitting and watching the hummingbirds and butterflies, Jamie Orten said.

“We love to be outside,” she said. “We have beautiful weather here in Colorado, and we wanted to take advantage of that.”

March 30, 2017

2017 SPRING Home & Garden

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THINGS TO THINK ABOUT WHEN CHOOSING A TREE

NURSERIES OFFER ADVICE FOR SHOPPERS

By Clarke Reader or many, the first sign that spring is approaching is when the ends of the branches on Colorado’s trees start turning green.

People in Colorado love their trees, from fruits and evergreens to shade and ornamentals. But what is the right tree? And how do you keep a tree thriving once you decide on what you want?

“The good thing is once a tree gets established where it’s growing, it doesn’t need a lot of work,” said Jeff Miller, manager of O’Toole’s Garden Center in Westminster. “A lot of people come in looking for a fast-growing tree, but that’s not what you want in Colorado. You want something that builds up.”

One of the most common questions employees at nurseries field from budding arborists is when to plant.

Harriet McMillan, horticulture specialist at Echter’s Nursery in Arvada, said trees can be planted in Colorado pretty much any time, but mid-spring and early fall are popular times.

“People want immediate results, but some of the best trees take a while,” she said. “You want to make a good-sized, saucer-shaped hole to plant the tree in. It’s not as much about the depth as it is creating enough room for the roots to establish themselves in the soil.”

What you must think about is the future — trees start small, but some will grow 40 feet high and 10 feet wide.

“You have to consider your planting location very carefully,” said Angie Hughes, who co-owns Pine Lane Nursery in Parker with her husband, Kurt. “Do your homework on different kinds of trees to see how big they’ll get, and what you might like.”

Plenty of online resources — like Colorado Tree Coalition and Colorado State University tree recommendations for the Front Range — can help you pick the right tree, McMillan said.

Some popular trees for the area include apple, sour cherry and pear (all of the fruiting variety), maple and lindens (for shade), and crabapples (an ornamental variety), according to Miller.

“The biggest thing people need to think about, especially with new trees, is water,” he added. “I’ve seen more trees killed with too much kindness and overwatering than not enough.”

It’s also important to remember to keep trees watered during the winter, especially when it’s as dry as this winter has been.

“In Colorado, it takes a good year of careful care and babying it along,” Hughes said. “But once you do that, you’ll start to see some really beautiful growth.”

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Maple trees are a popular choice in Colorado, providing plenty of shade. Photo by Shutterstock

March 30, 2017

2017 SPRING Home & Garden

Love your new Taylor Morrison home!

FLOURISH THRIVE LOVE ENJOY

Did you know that Taylor Morrison has been helping families create memories for more than a century?

When you’ve been doing something that long, you learn a few things. You learn the right way to build. You learn that people matter. And you learn the real staying power is in giving people a home they want.

Life inspired homes in Denver priced from the upper $300s-$600s. Come visit one of our communities today!

Denver Communities 1

CASTLE PINES VILLAGE - CASTLE PINES

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6802 NORTHSTAR CIRCLE CASTLE PINES, CO 80108 | 303.325.2454 From the upper $600s

2

LEYDEN RANCH - ARVADA

16209 W. 84TH DRIVE ARVADA, CO 80007 | 303.325.2442 From the $600s - CLOSEOUT

THE VILLAGE AT PALISADE PARK - BROOMFIELD

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617 W. 69TH PLACE BROOMFIELD, CO 80023 | 303.325.2445 From the upper $300s - CLOSEOUT 4

1 WILLOWCROFT DRIVE LITTLETON, CO 80123 | 303.325.2448 From the upper $600s

SKYESTONE - BROOMFIELD

12091 RED FOX WAY BROOMFIELD, CO 80021 | 303.325.2444 From the upper $300s to the $500s 55+ Community

WILLOWCROFT MANOR AT COLUMBINE VALLEY

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TERRAIN - CASTLE ROCK

1155 MCMURDO CIRCLE CASTLE ROCK, CO 80108 | 303.325.2456 From the upper $300s

TAYLOR MORRISON IS PROUD TO BE RECOGNIZED AS AMERICA’S MOST TRUSTED® HOME BUILDER* TWO YEARS IN A ROW! Find your new home at TaylorMorrison.com Additional restrictions and limitations apply. Offer void where prohibited or otherwise restricted by law. All buyer and broker incentives, pricing, availability and plans are subject to change or delay without notice. For Skyestone only: At least one resident of house hold must be 55 or better, and additional restrictions apply. Some residents may be younger than 55 and no one under 19 in permanent residency. *Taylor Morrison received the highest numerical score in the proprietary Lifestory Research 2016 and 2017 America’s Most Trusted® Home Builder study. The 2016 study based on 39,079 new home shoppers from Jan-Dec 2015, and 2017 study based on 31,764 new home shoppers from Jan-Dec 2016 in the United States. Your experiences may vary. visit www.lifestoryresearch.com. Please see a Community Sales Manager and visit www.taylormorrison.com for details. © February, 2017, Taylor Morrison of Colorado, Inc. All rights reserved.

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SPRING

Home & Garden

March 30, 2017

2017

THOUGHTFUL HOME DESIGN

D

uring the 1950s, the average-sized American home was just around 1,700 square feet.

Fast forward to today, and the average size has increased to about 2,600 square feet, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. While many Americans think the bigger the better, there is a growing trend of homeowners around the country opting to downsize to tiny homes, condominiums, apartments or just smaller single-family homes.

Deciding to scale down is driven by many reasons - the quest for less maintenance, parents recently becoming empty nesters, an increase in the cost of living or simply looking to live a greener lifestyle. However, having less square footage doesn’t need to mean skimping on style or function.

If you are planning on downsizing, here are four tips for thoughtful small space home design.

1. THINK DURABLE MATERIAL THAT CAN HANDLE DOUBLE DUTY. As people continue to downsize, it is important to maximize space by having rooms work double duty. If your home isn’t large enough to accommodate an eating area and an office, have your kitchen island work as both.

To keep up with daily wear, such as sliding pots and pans, plates, spills and more, look to a high performance

4 TIPS TO TRANSFORM ANY SMALL SPACE idea on its head by using fewer, yet larger pieces to furnish living rooms, bedrooms and dining rooms. By doing so, this creates an optical illusion of space and adds a designer’s touch.

3. MAKE A STATEMENT.

When designing a small space like a bathroom, thoughtfully selected wall or shower surfacing can make a huge difference.

Consider unexpected textures, designs and materials such as Neolith-sintered stone in the Lebanese cedar-inspired La Boheme design, pictured here.

countertop such as Neolith. This material is scratch, heat and stain-resistant. It’s also non-porous and hygienic, so there’s no need to worry about cross-contamination on office papers by day and food by night.

2. LESS IS MORE. According to popular belief, it is better to fill a space with several small pieces of furniture. However, designsavvy professionals and homeowners are turning this

When designing a small space like a bathroom, thoughtfully selected wall colors can make a huge difference. To really make a statement, think beyond paint with unexpected textures, designs and materials such as Neolith-sintered stone in the La Boheme design. This decor is an accurate interpretation of Lebanese-inspired cedar that adds visual interest and is much easier to maintain than its natural counterpart.

Finish off the look with oversized art, large mirrors to bounce light around the room, a floating sink and toilet, and open shower to pack a punch in a small space.

4. BRING ONLY WHAT YOU LOVE. It may seem obvious, but when moving or scaling back on your next home, be sure to take an inventory of everything you own, and only bring items that make you happy. Without the extra storage space larger homes afford, downsizing is a great opportunity to really ask yourself, “Do I love this and do I need it?” When you have only the possessions you love surrounding you in your new space, it will automatically feel bigger.

EE Y! FR TR EN

CASTLE ROCK HOME & GARDEN SHOW March 31 - April 2

exciting inspiration | unbelievable deals | over 100 exhibitors

Hours: Fri 12-6 // Sat 10-6 // Sun 10-5 At the Douglas County Fairgrounds www.castlerockhomeshow.com