2023 Spring Home & Garden Section

American Press I Friday, March 31, 2023

2 AMERICAN PRESS FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2023

SPRING HOME & GARDEN

Couple reinvigorated after downsizing, moving to ‘Holy Ground’

By Rita LeBleu American Press

Charles and Karen Woodard decided it was time to leave their 5500-square foot house on the w River. The land had been in the family for over 100 years. Now “home” is a charming 2,800-square-foot, three-bedroom, three-bath, raised center hall cottage in Terre Sainte, a Lake Charles development off Sallier Street.

They couldn’t be happier with the new place and credit “the best team they could get” for making the process, down to the smallest detail, fun.

“The place on the river really was a beautiful piece of property, one of the prettiest in Lake Charles,” Karen Woodard said. “We loved it, but our bodies didn’t love it anymore.”

They didn’t want yard work. What they did want, according to Charles Woodard, was a historical “cottage like the ones in the New Orleans upper

Chelsea Brennan of Brennan Interiors spearheaded the design and decoration of the Woodard home, including using pocket doors to save space.

Chris Brennan Special to the American Press

garden district that had been restored by a couple of yuppies.”

The first team member they settled on was Jen Inman, a New Orleans architect who lives in Lake Charles. Her

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husband, Kenny, was the contractor.

Chelsea Brennan, Brennan Interiors, spearheaded the design and decorating process from the ground up, communicating with Charles and Karen,

on every detail — form and function — from antique doors to custom window coverings, the finish of a mirror when contrasted with the sink faucet finish, and even the custom lighting.

“We took our time,” Karen said, “and it wasn’t difficult.” It wasn’t difficult because the team was so smart, so talented. I can’t sing their praises enough.”

The most significant challenge was the downsize from 5500-square-feet to 2,800. “Without Chelsea, I don’t think we could have done it,” Karen said. “She helped me visualize exactly where everything would go and how it would look.

“I am not good at visualizing, but I am very good with details,” Karen said. “The details do matter from the hardware to a single piece of fabric or the trim on a window covering.”

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blanche, but close. The style of the interior is best described as eclectic.

Metals are mixed. Textures are varied.

A smattering of quality and subtle wallpaper patterns add just the right amount of pleasant surprise to rooms.

Each room has a touch of black, a unifying factor, according to Karen. Antiques are at home with modern, streamlined seating. The Woodard house feels large, airy and spacious, thanks to the center hall design, the natural light streaming in from the large energy-efficient windows, 10-foot ceilings and mostly white walls and ceilings.

“The first thing we purchased, before the house was even framed up, was the pocket door,” Karen said. She tilted her chin toward the six-and-ahalf foot opening between the kitchen and living/ dining area. The pocket door takes up no room, and creates no awkward angles when opened.

The white walls are the perfect backdrop for the Woodard’s exceptional collection of art, vintage posters,

antique documents and maps and precision-perfect pen-and-ink drawings by the late Pat Gallagher, a wellknown Lake Charles architect.

The most bold framed art in the Woodard home is the Clementine Hunter series — made all the more eye-catching hung four deep — an Eddie Morman painting and an abstract from a very big talent.

Hunter (1886-1988) was a selftaught folk artist from the Cane River region who would paint in her primitive style only the world she knew, on anything she could get her hands on.

The “Woodard’s Baptism,” “Wedding,” “Reception” and “Funeral” paintings signed with the backward “C and H” monogram are behind glass as they are painted on sheetrock.

“Charles was wise enough to purchase those in 1967,” Karen said. He would have been off to LSU that year.

Eddie Morman is a color blind Lake Charles artist who uses a palette knife to apply thick swaths of oil paint, almost to the thickness of a cake frosting, to create Southwest Louisiana scenes. The Woodards purchased the large square canvas completely filled

FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2023 AMERICAN PRESS 3

by a single shrimp at a fundraiser.

At the end of the hall, the hall where the black silhouettes of grandchildren and photographs of sternfaced Fitzenreiter and Goos ancestors grace the hall, is an abstract painting consisting of loose thick black ovals filled in with color. It’s not signed.

“I found out about these elephants in Thailand that paint,” Karen said.

“That’s one of their paintings and the elephant’s name is on the back. I think it’s Vesia.”

On a table below is a drawing by one of the grandchildren. It’s on cardboard. A chicken butt, that’s what.

“There were only two antiques that we were determined to keep,” Karen said. “One is the five-leg dining table.”

“It was a wedding present to my great-grandmother in 1903,” Charles added.

It is a wonder any of the Woodards favorite furnishings, antiques and artwork from the river house made it to its new home at all.

“We had moved all of our things into a storage center and warehouse,” Karen said, “and we were renting a house while this one was being built.

As soon as it was finished enough, we moved everything here.”

Two weeks before they were to move into their new digs came the Hurricane Laura warning. They evacuated. The storage facility and the warehouse where their things had been stored were demolished. The house received minimal damage.

“At first I was upset because the scheduling and the damage, although minor, upset the applecart. In hindsight, I see how truly blessed we were.”

The Woodards could have purchased a lot almost anywhere in Lake Charles, but Karen was very drawn to the idea of living on “Holy Ground,” which is the meaning of Terre Saint, the neighborhood named by students of Immaculate Conception Cathedral School. They appreciate being surrounded by younger families, and the noise of children playing and laughing.

“We love it, but we couldn’t have done it without the team,” Karen said.

“I think what I learned from Chelsea is that it’s OK to do something different,” Charles added.

And they did, enjoying the process that helped make their house a home.

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SPRING HOME & GARDEN

Budget-friendly ways to freshen up your home’s exterior

By Rita LeBleu American Press

Don’t let today’s economy curtail a spring home exterior spruce up. There are plenty of budget-friendly and/or skills-suitable projects to choose from that will make a noticeable difference.

Cleaning makes a powerful difference. Power washing won’t break the bank but it can revive the look of a home, especially after the winter. Professional power washer and handyman Robert Saucier said the inexperienced homeowner can handle power washing brick and vinyl exteriors. Wood exteriors are a little tricky.

“I’ve seen folks not only peel away a good paint job, but the wood itself,” he said. “The distance from the surface, the intensity of the pressure and products used matter.”

He advises the use of bleach for vinyl and brick. “For vinyl I use halfbleach and half-water. For brick I use

more bleach.”

Saucier charges $125 to pressure wash a manufactured home and around $200 to $225 for a 1,600 to 2,000 square foot home. The best way to clean vinyl siding if you want to do the job without hiring a professional or renting expensive equipment, according to Saucier, is to use a pumpup bottle filled with a half-bleach, half-water mixture. Spray the surface, top to bottom, then rinse with water. Even a water hose will do. Power washing removes dirt and grime steps, sidewalks and driveways, as well.

A clean front porch is a welcoming front porch. Refresh further by adding chairs or rockers, bright cushions a hanging plant or rug.

Get out the paint and brushes.

Consider painting the front door, or simply adding a fresh coat of the existing paint color. Use the same paint for a porch accent furnishing or single

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For the front door, or really any exterior door, the type of door, steel or wood, not only determines the type of paint needed, but also the method used to produce the best outcome.

“Here at Stine, we actually give out a sheet that walks the do-it-yourself homeowner through each step,” said Stephanie Woods.

She’s noticed that darker colors are trending, not only the traditional black but dark teal, dark green and navy.

“When you use a high-gloss exterior paint, we recommend using it outside and in on the door. For one thing, high gloss is super easy to clean.”

Consider replacing hardware and outside lighting. Door knobs, knockers, house numbers, and even the mailbox can appear dated after a while.

Walker Davis, Davis Decorative Hardware, said if you want to replace the front door hardware, remain se-

cure and save money, consider purchasing hardware with only one sturdy lock.

“If installed correctly, a high lock is all you need,” he said. The lock should be high quality from a trustworthy manufacturer, and it must be installed correctly. A simple, traditional deadbolt is an effective lock well-suited to front doors.

Days are longer, but for added security, leave on a new, updated porch light. Lighting is all about form and function. Updates should complement the style of the home and serve its purpose, to illuminate. The right lighting can add character and curb appeal.

A good cleaning, a few inexpensive and colorful cushions, an easy-tocare-for plant, fresh coat of paint on the front door or porch rocker and new hardware and lighting can be affordable and quick refreshes with a profound impact that signals spring.

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6 AMERICAN PRESS FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2023

SPRING HOME & GARDEN

Secrets to starting your first home garden off right

By Emily Burleigh American Press

With the spike in food prices — the Consumer Price Index for grocery store food purchases is 10.2 percent higher than it was last year — and the fresh spring air, many are looking to nurture their own garden, and maybe even build a chicken coop.

Lori Gutierrez-Richard, creator of the popular community Facebook group called “Southwest Louisiana Gardening,” has devoted many years to creating a garden that produces food year-round.

She explained that while it takes a lot of money, time, resources and commitment to create a sustainable food source that ultimately saves you money, the process of creating a garden is

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full of hard work, joy and fulfillment.

Home Garden It is best to start small when creating a home garden, said Gutierrez-Richard. By starting small, you are able to fully learn about the needs of certain plants. It also prevents garden burnout. She said new gardeners who try to grow a whole garden of plants become easily disheartened when there are failures “that make you want to quit gardening altogether.”

The next step is to choose where you would like to garden — an area of your yard that receives 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight — and what method of gardening you’d like to use. Popular methods include in-ground, raised See GARDEN, 7

SPRING HOME & GARDEN

FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2023 AMERICAN PRESS 7

GARDEN Continued from 6

beds and elevated patio planters.

“There is a method of gardening that can be successful for every house, apartment, duplex or RV.” Arguably the most important step in creating a home garden is research; It is important to understand what plants are best suited for your area.

Gutierrez-Richard noted that the LSU AgCenter has a free printable planting guide available online that provides vital information, such as where and when to plant depending on your area.

Growing vegetables comes with a learning curve, especially in the spring. “All spring vegetables will need a little bit of TLC to make them produce to their full potential … and every season you’ll still learn something new,” she said.

“I don’t particularly like to think of any spring vegetable as beginner or expert,” she said. “It is completely possible for a brand new gardener to grow the biggest, most beautiful tomatoes ever with the right soil, nutrients and

Popular methods of gardening include using in-ground, raised beds and elevated patio planters.

Special to the American Press

pruning.”

She noted that some of the “easier” spring plants to tend to are cherry tomatoes, southern peas, eggplant, cucumbers, hot peppers, okra and corn. Basil and parsley are good herbs to start with, as well.

Raising Chickens Raising chickens is a serious thing, she said. “Make sure you understand

that chickens are a huge responsibility.” Like with most pets, they must be fed, sheltered, protected from predators and cared for properly. Chickens will not thrive and produce eggs if they are not properly cared for, Gutierrez-Richard explained.

The first step to raising chickens is to check in with your local Homeowners Association or research your city ordinances to see if it is allowed in

your area. It is also important to know what types of chickens are allowed.

Commonly, hens are allowed, but roosters are not.

She also noted that someone should not expect to save money. “Raising chickens will most likely not be less expensive than just buying eggs from other chicken owners or the store, but the pros of having them far outweigh the cons.”

She cited the benefits: the joy of having wholesome, accessible, fresh food at your disposal, the compostability of their droppings, sustainability and the overall entertainment they provide. “They’re funny and a blast to watch.”

Like home gardening, research is vital to ensure you adopt the best chickens for your yard space. “Some chickens do well in confinement in your coop and others do better when they free range in your yard. Some chickens make good pets and are great with kids and others are flighty and nervous.”

She also suggests finding mentors for gardening and chicken rearing. “It’s easier to succeed in a community.”

8 AMERICAN PRESS FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2023

SPRING HOME & GARDEN

Rain gardens: Natural landscaping technique for backyard floor mitigation

By Emily Burleigh American Press

Rain gardens are a practical and aesthetically pleasing method of flood mitigation that can be easily created in the backyard.

These indented landscape features are a type of green infrastructure that serve as a form of bioretention, a process that removes contaminants and sedimentation from stormwater runoff.

It is important to filter rainwater, as it often becomes polluted with oil, pet waste, fertilizer, sediments and other pollutants after flowing through yards and parking lots. Without bioretention methods, this polluted water runs off into natural waterways, as most stormwater runoff is not directed to treatment plants.

According to the Watershed Institute, rain gardens recreate the natural function of the land — capturing rainwater, filtering out pollutants and

The rain garden fills with a few inches of water after a storm, and the water slowly filters into the ground.

LSU AgCenter

recharging groundwater — and capture rainwater before flooding a property or flowing into a storm drain.

Redirecting and capturing rainwater with rain gardens also creates healthier soil, as the nutrients in the water can be put to use by plants.

Building a rain garden is simple and cost effective. Margaret H. Frey stated in a publication from the LSU

AgCenter that they can be installed “in the corner of the lawn, along the edges of roads or in natural drain areas of a lawn.”

The garden should also be placed 10 to 15 feet away from foundations or crawl spaces. They should also be dug away from large trees to avoid root rot.

Rain gardens can be optimized by placing them in the natural low points

of your yard. The depth of a rain garden ranges from 3 to 6 inches with a depression in the center.

After digging a shallow depression, the garden should be layered with the proper materials to optimize drainage. The base layer should be gravel, followed by sand, compost, topsoil and mulch.

The aesthetic benefits of a rain garden come with the planting of native plants. It is important to plants that are naturally occurring in your area.

These plants contribute to the ecosystem by providing a habitat for local animals and insects.

The plants should have deep roots to assist with soil retention and slow the drainage of rainwater, Frey said.

Plants that thrive in rain gardens in Southwest Louisiana include carolina jessamine, dahoon holly, sweet bay, southern wax myrtle, dwarf palmetto, Louisiana iris, giant coneflower and maidenhair fern.