Home and Garden (Northeast)

Oh, can you believe it? Spring is finally here. It feels as though we’ve waited so long for this – the most breathtaking of seasons.

I was out a few days ago enjoying the warmth in the air with my pug, Ricky.

Even he could feel something different that day.

He could feel the inviting warmth of a new season – a new beginning.

Spring is the most exciting season.

It’s a time for new beginnings, whether that be for our lives, our homes or our yards.

This year’s Spring Home & Garden is sure to offer some wonderful inspiration for your remodeling and planting projects.

Each page blooms with wonderful information on local businesses that are here to help you through the process.

Melissa Hayden Specialty Publications Editor mhayden@communitypress.com | 248-7121

Features 5

Early gardening

6

Expert tips for creating a beautiful landscape

Bring the outdoors into your home this spring.

Increase the value and beauty of your home with expert tips.

7

Greening the kitchen Go Green with eco-friendly cabinetry – it’s no longer a passing fad.

Featured businesses Roof Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Ceramic Tile Outlet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Beautiful Small Gardens . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Contact Spring Home & Garden is an annual advertising-sponsored magazine published by the Specialty Publications Department of The Community Press/ The Community Recorder.

Questions and comments can be sent to Editor Melissa Hayden c/o The Community Press/394 Wards Corner/Loveland, OH 45140 or e-mail mhayden@communitypress.com.

For advertising information call 936-3366.

Splendid Spaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 One Small Garden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Rogers Pavement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 USA Insulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

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Spring Home & Garden

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Why didn’t it last?

Most people don’t understand why their roof has failed or why it never lasts its warranty.

Roof Time has the answer.

“It has to do with what I like to call the ‘Energy Trilogy,’” explained Project Manager JD Shoemaker. “Ventilation, insulation, and radiation.”

A common problem is that there is not enough insulation.

Roof Time uses the amount recommended by Energy Star.

Ventilation and insulation are required by code, but radiation is not. Therefore, most in the roofing industry don’t take it into consideration, according to Shoemaker.

Roof Time uses a radiant barrier, a metallic foil material, that reduces the transmission of radiated heat. Using this technique Roof Time can add another 10 years to your roof’s life.

These factors will pay dividends, as you’ll be able to save on your monthly energy bill.

Call 936-3366 to advertise in CreativeLiving

“We have the knowledge,” Shoemaker said.

“We Roof Time uses a have quality radiant barrier, a products. metallic foil But material, that more reduces the importantly transmission of we are radiated heat. passionate about serving our customer. We know that our integrity depends on our service.”

Client Rick Beckett knows this best. Beckett rests well at night because he has complete confidence in the roof over his head.

“I knew nothing about roofs,” the homeowner admits. “But those at Roof Time spent time

Rick Beckett’s West Chester home.

with me and helped me understand. They told me what was needed, what they would do and they did it.The experience was fantastic.”

Beckett recommends Roof Time, because he was satisfied, not only with their expertise, but their impeccable service.

“All those in the roof industry have to ask why their business exists,” explains Shoemaker. “We exist to serve.”

Roof Time has won Angie’s

List Super Service Award for the past four years in a row, as well as, was voted Favorite Roofer by Community Press readers in 2009.

Their estimators arrive on time and prepared, in neatly lettered vehicles and uniforms; inspect the attic portion of the roof, then inspect and measure from the roof top. An estimate can be prepared right from their vehicles or e-mailed back the

See ROOF TIME on page 4

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Spring Home & Garden

Spring home makeovers start with tile from Ceramic Tile Outlet It’s spring and change is in the air!

Many homeowners are looking to renovate and update their homes this spring and research shows that the wisest investment that you can make to your home is in the kitchen and bathroom.

With a high return on your investment and a new look that livens up your home, Ceramic Tile Outlet has the perfect product for your kitchen or bath redo.

Located in Erlanger, Ceramic Tile Outlet has been supplying Tristate homeowners with high quality floor and wall tiles for 20 years. Homeowners prefer Ceramic Tile Outlet because of their excellent selection of tile which they have in stock, ready for pick-up and their unparalleled customer service.

“That is one thing that sets us apart and makes us different from other tile companies. We stock our tile and have it conveniently ready for our customers and the other tile suppliers don’t,” said owner Dan Kennedy. “It is already here, ready to be loaded.”

Ceramic Tile Outlet carries fine, quali-

ty tile that you will love in your kitchen or bathroom at exceptional prices. The company imports most of its tile from The company imports the most most of its tile from the respected tile makers in most respected tile Italy and has makers in Italy and has been doing been doing business with business with many of their vendors for many of their vendors for over 20 years. over 20 years.

“We carry porcelain, ceramic, and glass tile as well as an engineered stone that no one else has in greater Cincinnati,” said Kennedy.

This spring, give both the value of your home and your kitchen or bathroom a boost with beautiful tile from Ceramic Tile Outlet. Call 525-1600 for more information and store hours.

Roof Time |Confidence Continued from page 3

Call 936-3366 to advertise in the Senior Living section of CreativeLiving next month.

same day! Estimators are non-commissioned, and only bid work that needs to be completed.

Written estimates are free, and feature digital roof top photos. Roof Time is an Owens Corning preferred contractor and has been serving the community with offices in Boone and Clermont counties since 1995.

For more information call Office Manager Sandy, at 859-344-TIME or 513528-TIME, to schedule a free roof inspection. Visit, www.time2roof.com for a valuable Internet only offer.

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Bring early spring to your home with indoor gardening Do images of flowering trellises laden with yellow, pink, green and purple blooms dance through your dreams? You may be ready for some warm spring-like temperatures, but the weather outside is still a little frightful. Ignore the weather and bring spring inside with some indoor gardening.

Not only does bringing spring inside help brighten your home, but houseplants can also improve the quality of the air you’re breathing. A NASA study found that houseplants remove up to 87 percent of toxic indoor air inside a sealed chamber within 24 hours.

By planting now, while winter is still in the air, you will have vegetables, herbs and flowers primed for transplanting when warmer weather finally arrives. And since they’re inside, you can watch the plants as they shoot their little green stems out of the fresh dirt, monitoring them as they grow.

• Use loose potting soil to promote root growth. Outside, worms and insects tunnel through the dirt, naturally breaking it up to help plants spread their roots. To mimic their effect indoors, use potting soil mixed with peat moss, vermiculite and perlite to create a light texture that won’t compact after a couple of waterings.

• Make sure the natural light is adequate.

Some plants like direct sunlight and must be located near a south-facing window, while others prefer a few hours of indirect light.

But to really keep your herbs and flowers looking strong all season long, consider using artificial light like the Grow Light Pro White from Wards.com, which can also help you get your spring garden started early with seedlings. The Grow Light has four lights that can be turned on as a unit or individually, and it has an adjustable bottom shelf so you can alter the light level as your plants grow.

When plants don’t get the light they need, they start to appear thin and frail. As your plants begin to grow, make sure to rotate the pots so the stems grow straight, rather than bending unnaturally toward the source of light.

• Keep the humidity level above 50 percent with a humidifier. Not only will your plants appreciate the extra moisture, but so will you. When the humidity drops below 50 percent, most plants suffer from water loss

through their leaves, and it’s difficult to regain that water balance, even with frequent watering.

• Really bring spring inside your home with beautiful pots and decorating accents.

Visit Wards.com to find beautiful and creative birdhouses that not only are functional, but stylish enough to hang inside.

Consider hanging a wire birdhouse in the shape of an acorn in the kitchen window, or using a set of two birdhouses as a unique decoration for your entryway.

• Mix art and fun together with some ivy. Ivy topiaries are very easy to grow, and there are many creative planters and forms you can use to support the ivy as it winds its way toward the sun. Are you a music fan? A guitar and music stand with little pots incorporated into the design can help brighten up your living room. Or maybe you prefer a vintage look created by placing a Madeline Dress Form over your vines, allowing them to grow and construct the skirt.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

6

Spring Home & Garden

Expert tips for creating a beautiful landscape

It may be a little cool outside, but homeowners are already dreaming of creating beautiful garden settings around their homes come spring. Landscaping success doesn’t have to be hit or miss, and if it has been for you, it may be time to call in a professional landscape designer.

Why? Because in the long run, hiring a landscape designer can cost less than doing it yourself.

You’ll get a “doable” design created right the first time, saving you the cost of repeated tries at getting it right or planting the wrong plants in the wrong spots. A professional landscape designer envisions creative solutions to the most difficult outdoor challenges – problems they’ve more than likely solved before.

Plus, a high-quality landscape increases home sale prices up to 10.8 percent, compared to a home with a simply average landscape, according to the Journal of Environmental Horticulture.

Here are some tips from professional landscape designers to create your dream garden.

First, consider your space and any “issues” that it has. Hiding an unsightly air conditioning unit, adding privacy and changing boring views to beautiful ones are issues that landscape designers face with many clients.

“As a certified landscape designer through the Association of Professional Landscape Designers, I see the big picture,” said Boston-based landscape designer Maria von Brincken, APLD. “A designer sees the problems that you see, and often the ones you don’t, and can offer solutions to create beautiful, functional and earthy-friendly landscapes to

add to your lives.”

Next, do your homework. Tear out favorite pictures from gardening magazines, and start making a file on what you would like for your dream garden.

While not everything might be possible for your garden, it will give your landscape designer a visual starting point. Don’t forget about hardscape such as patios, decks and fencing; designers can help with these also.

Take your time. Brincken warns of the temptation to impulsively buy plants at a garden center and attempt a garden make-over.

This can be a costly gamble for those without experience. Many homeowners find that it takes the help of a designer to create a well-planned landscape project that includes both plants and hardscape.

While there is a cost to hiring a landscape designer, it is ultimately more economical to work with an expert to create a plan specific to your yard. The project is completed in a timely manner and within budget when you take your time and create a landscape plan. Expect to spend about 10 percent of the total cost of the project on the design.

Consider what you want to achieve with your landscape.

“People are busy, and they want to have an outdoor space that makes them feel comfortable, not frustrated and worn out from gardening chores,” said Judy Nauseef, APLD, of Iowa City, Iowa, and president of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (www.apld.org).

“They also want to maximize their investment in their home,” she adds. ‘Having a well-designed

See LANDSCAPE on page 9

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Beautiful Small Gardens Beautiful Small Gardens says it all.

This picture (in the ad to the right) is of a late spring and early summer garden. When the wild red and pink poppies are in full bloom. Earlier in the spring there were hundreds of yellow, white and pink daffodils and hyacinths. After the poppies there are a wide selection of perennials, and carefully selected annuals to add a splash of

intense color. Come visit!

Steve Mack is available to design your new garden or replant an old one starting first with soil preparation and whatever it takes to be successful.

He works alone most of the time and can usually start and complete a project in two to three days so there is no waiting.

His interest is in blooming bushes, ornamental trees, evergreens, perennials, annuals, wild-

flowers, bulbs, and grasses. He enjoys combining wild soft grasses with large boulders and where appropriate using flat river stones for pathways.

Most importantly your garden must be beautiful and enjoyable all year long and something you see often during the day.

When you need help mulching, fertilizing, and weeding call on him 4043487 or e-mail smack5512@cinci.rr.com.

Greening the kitchen up with eco-friendly cabinetry “Incorporating green elements into a kitchen remodel is no longer considered just a passing fad, but a way of life,” said Dick Titus, executive vice president of the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA). “Homeowners feel a social responsibility to choose products that are safe for the environment and their family’s welfare.”

Kitchen cabinets could take up as much as half of a kitchen renovation budget, so it’s vital for homeowners wanting to “green” their kitchens to choose a quality cabinet manufacturer with roots in environmental sustainability.

KCMA’s Environmental Stewardship Program (ESP) can simplify the quest.

ESP enables cabinet manufacturers to demonstrate their commitment to environmental sustainability and helps consumers easily identify environmentally friendly products. After meeting the certification requirements in areas such as product resource management, air quality, process resource management, environmental stewardship and community relations, companies earn the ESP seal to display on their products.

ESP encourages the following practices by awarding points to manufacturers who qualify:

Certified by a recognized sustainable forestry program Wood products, especially cabinets, are an environmentally friendly choice for a number of reasons. One reason is

that wood is a naturally renewable resource, meaning new trees will grow in place of those that have already been harvested. ESP certification awards points to manufacturers who use wood in their cabinets that is certified through a recognized sustainable forestry program. Programs such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) put a label on their wood products to show consumers that the resources removed from the forest are at a level the forest is capable of renewing without damaging its future. In doing so, these practices preserve the environment and valuable forest resources.

Low levels of formaldehyde To earn points in ESP’s air quality category, manufacturers must prove that 80 percent of particleboard, medium density fiberboard, hardboard and plywood

See GREEN KITCHEN on page 8

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Spring Home & Garden

Freshen up your home for spring with Splendid Spaces interior design Kim Wildenmann, interior designer and founder of Splendid Spaces, LLC offers ideas for simple changes that can freshen up your home for spring.

• Bring in fresh floral arrangements or silks that incorporate a “fresh from the garden look,” with wildflowers or herbs.

• Refresh furniture with new pillows in colorful fabrics.

• Replace heavy bedding with a light cotton comforter.

• Paint a room in a soothing shade of light gold, sage green, or aqua blue.

• Get ready for outdoor living with acrylic fabrics. There are so many styles now that have a great look and wear well for inside and out.

Splendid Spaces, LLC will help you with all of your design needs, including selection of paint colors, furniture and accessories to designing window treatments, murals and total room additions

Simple changes can freshen up your home.

or remodels. Kim was on an award-winning Homearama design team and has presented seminars at the Cincinnati Home and Garden Show.

To learn more about in-home consultations, visit her Web site at www.splendidspaces.com or call 941-0767. Check out Kim’s blog, offering free design tips and advice.

Green kitchen |Eco-friendly cabinetry Continued from page 7

MOTHER’S DAY CONTEST ANNOUNCEMENT!

used in the cabinets meet the low formaldehyde emissions level of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Compwood ATCM. Such materials must be thirdparty certified by a CARB-approved lab to meet low formaldehyde emission standards. The CARB Compwood ATCM is the lowest formaldehyde standard in the world. Formaldehyde is a naturally occurring substance that can be produced by the human body. It is ubiquitous and a component of hundreds of consumer items.

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Eco-friendly manufacturing process When shopping for eco-friendly cabinets, it is important to not only examine the cabinets, but also the process that was used to manufacture

them. Criteria for process resource management includes that the manufacturer have an active recycling program for wastes, an energy-conservation program or another form of environmentalmanagement system. On top of conserving resources, these practices can reduce the emission of pollutants and greenhouse gases, and aid in decreasing landfills, all of which have clear societal benefits.

Commitment to the environment When purchasing ESP certified cabinets, homeowners can rest assured that the manufacturer is committed to both the environment and their community. ESP’s environmental stewardship criteria require that the manufacturer have a written policy stating a

firm commitment to protect the environment. The community relations category encourages the manufacturer to demonstrate community involvement and leadership through service or charitable organizations and observe all federal, state and local environmental requirements.

With almost 150 ESP certified cabinetry companies to choose from, homeowners have the ability to select environmentally responsible cabinetry tailored to their needs, no matter their price, style, finish and wood preference - just look for the ESP seal located on the base cabinet. For more information and tips on “greening” the home and finding environmentally friendly cabinetry visit www.greencabinet source.org.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Spring Home & Garden

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One Small Garden - taste the difference More than a driveway One Small Garden invites you to enjoy the joy and simplicity of growing your own food.

The company, which has a retail “show -n-tell” space in Terrace Park, provides locally harvested and milled raised red cedar beds, and best sourced tools and soils supporting sustainable living styles.

One Small Garden has the philosophy that if

everyone in the tristate grew just some of their own food, lives would be greatly enriched. The featured kitchen gardens are very simply assembled with no tools. They are ideally suited for safe food growing - the indigenous fragrant red cedar offers natural durability, beauty and organic bug resistance. These quality crafted gardens are sized right for

manageability, ease and high yielding results.

Do you enjoy farm fresh food? Do you have a sunny 4-foot by 4-foot space? Are you interested in using local and sustainable materials? Then One Small Garden is for you!

Visit www.1smallgarden.com. and join the food revolution by growing One Small Garden.

Landscape |Expert tips Continued from page 6 landscape gives the homeowner more living space and also helps with resale value.”

Research and reach out to a few landscape designers. Be sure to interview several designers to find one who meets your needs and personality. Review the portfolio or Web site of each designer, and visit some of their work if possible. Finally, if you have a budget in mind, share this with the designer up front.

Get ready to get dirty.

“You can hire a landscape designer for a range of services. You might choose to hire a designer for a two hour consultation for ideas and suggestions that you might implement yourself,” said Patricia St. John, APLD, of Berkeley, Calif., and APLD incoming president. “You could also hire a designer to give you a complete design for your garden. When it comes to implementing the design you have choices -involve the designer while you hire a recommended landscape con-

tractor or even do some of the work yourself.”

Also, you do not have to complete the whole plan at once. A landscape can be installed over a period of time as well.

Homeowners can decide what areas are most important and start there.

Take the first step to a dream garden. With the help of a professional landscape designer, you can create a plan that will work for your landscape and you.

Finding a designer is easy: visit www.apld.org.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Rogers Pavement Maintenance, located in Blue Ash, reminds you to contact them in early spring to assess the winter damage to your driveway.

Owned and operated

by Doug Rogers, RPM has been maintaining and upgrading residential properties throughout the Greater Cincinnati since 1983.

“We experienced a rough winter in Cincinnati,” Rogers said.

“A lot of snow and the continual freeze and thaw can damage your pavement surfaces.”

Getting a jump start on an evaluation of your driveway, will allow RPM ample time to provide you with a professional opinion, a competitive estimate and complete your job in early spring, so you can enjoy your driveway for the rest of the year!

Early maintenance of course, is not limited to driveways; this also includes patios and other

exterior hardscape areas.

With more than 25 years of experience, you can rely on the professionals at RPM to deliver quality products and service at a fair price on every job.

RPM takes pride in their workmanship and believes in the “hands-on” approach to provide superior quality with every job.

“Whether your job requires maintenance or complete replacement, there are numerous options available to a homeowner, from the very simple to the very extravagant, and we can do it all,” Rogers said.

If you’re not sure what to look for in a quote or need a better understanding of paving and sealcoating terminology go to: pavementmadeeasy.com Call Rogers Pavement Maintenance Inc. today at 791-9001 for a thorough evaluation of your driveway needs, or visit www. rogerspavement.com.

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Make your home more energy efficeint with USA Insulation

President Obama urges homeowners to make their homes energy efficient In December, President Obama urged homeowners to make their home more energy efficient. He suggested there is a lot more we can do to reduce our carbon footprint.

In his now famous “Insulation is Sexy” speech, he explained that homes and office buildings consume nearly 40 percent of the energy we use, and contribute almost 40 percent of the carbon pollution we produce.

“Homes built in the first half of the last century use about 50 percent more energy than homes built today because most of our homes and offices aren’t energy efficient,” he explained.

Obama also suggested that the simple act of retrofitting buildings or homes, including insulating them, is the fastest, easiest and cheapest way to save money.

“Insulation is sexy stuff,” Obama said. “Here’s what’s sexy

about it – saving money!”

The federal government has extended the tax credit through 2010 so more homeowners can takeadvantage of the program.

USA Insulation wants to help homeowners save money in 2010.

“Insulating your home is the best investment you can make to your home,” said Steve Cikach, president of USA Insulation.

“The federal government has extended the tax credit for 2010, so it’s basically a no-brainer on whether or not to insulate your home. The only decision you need to make is ‘when to insulate.’ ” Most homes built before 1975 were not required to have insulation. If your home is 35 years or older, your utility bills are probably higher than they should be.

In his speech, Obama used a simple example to get his point across about saving energy. “If

you saw $20 bills floating out the window into the atmosphere, you’d try to figure out how you can keep that.”

USA Insulation installs Premium Foam insulation with the highest R-value in the industry. R-value is the amount of resistance to the movement of temperature through the walls and ceilings. USA’s Premium Foam insulation’s R-value is 5.1 per inch.

It goes in the wall cavity as a foam, then hardens between the walls, acting as a “blanket” that protects your home from the temperature extremes.

In addition to lower utility bills, insulation has other benefits. Your home will no longer have those “drafty” areas or temperature fluctuations between the upstairs and downstairs.

USA’s premium foam acts as a sound barrier to the outside

world, so your home will be quieter. Insulation is important to prospective buyers, and homes that are insulated have higher resale values.

Most homeowners don’t think they can insulate their brick or stucco home, but they will be surprised to learn that they can, Cikach said.

He said that with brick and stucco, USA Insulation is able to make smaller holes – a half an inch to be exact – to apply the foam.

USA Insulation can fit in most mortar joints without damaging the brick. USA Insulation also can match the mortar colors to the brick or stucco material.

Call to schedule a free, noobligation insulation evaluation at 381-FOAM (3626).

Visit www.usainsulation.net to see a video of the product.