February 6, 2014
BE INSPIRED Top design trends for 2014
Be Safe Eliminate dangers with some vital home safety tips
STAY WARM Get rid of those unwanted drafts
Tidy up: your kids' rooms
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February 6, 2014 — AT HOME - HERALD COMMUNITTY NEWSPAPERS
Top decor trends for 2014
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enew. Rejuvenate. Reinvigorate.The same objectives people have when making their personal New Year's resolutions can be just as easily be applied to their homes. There's no better time to give a home a fresh look, whether it's incorporating a new color palette, adding accessories, repurposing furniture or putting something interesting up on the walls.
A Kaleidoscope of Color Interior designer Gary McBournie recommends happy hues such as turquoise for a kitchen, chartreuse for a dining room and coral for a bedroom. Roger Hazard, a designer who starred in the Emmy-nominated "Sell This House," agrees that color palettes will embrace a variety of bold, punchy accent colors but also notes a seismic shift in neutrals from the "brown fatigue" of browns and beiges to bright gallery whites and truly neutral grays. Purples can be paired with accents of copper and well-worn leather in a masculine den; layered with gold, gray and white for an elegant bedroom; or highlighted against subway tile and chrome fixtures for a statement master bathroom.
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Every Wall Has a Story Todd Imholte, president of Murals Your Way, predicts that wall murals will be even
more popular next year as more homeowners and business owners embrace this unique, distinctive way to transform any room. Simple to install and remove, wall murals are an attractive and affordable design trend.
It's Only Natural ASID and IIDA award-winning interior and furniture designer Bea Pila sees natural elements increasingly created into luxurious furnishings. Look for lamps embellished with geodes and natural gems, featheradorned pillows and sharkskin as a rich table finish. Also stone and stone veneers make for an interesting organic interior wall covering, says designer Debbie Wiener, as do sticks gathered in groups as triptychs or propped up against the wall. continued on page S3
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This year's top trends
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he new year will usher in a new era of home decor by welcoming an "anything goes" attitude as designers mix old with new;
DIY and high-end;as well as rustic and sleek to create eclectic, one-of-a-kind looks that are just as personal to the homeowner as they are unique. "We're seeing a lot of flexibility in the way people approach design throughout their homes; a trend we think will continue to grow in the coming year," says Judd Lord, lead industrial designer for Delta Faucet Company. "People are learning that high-end design doesn't always equate to perfectly matched pieces. In fact, many well-appointed homes achieve a seamless look by employing a variety of design principles and influences." While achieving this aesthetic may seem incredibly simple, it can be easy to go overboard when blending multiple patterns, accents and colors all under one roof. Follow these simple tips to create a well-appointed home.
Incorporate the "New" Neutral continued from page S2
Lighten Up
tion. Wiener suggests gas-fired home "fire walls" under a wall-mounted big-screen television that can serve as a source of warmth and an art focal piece.
Lighting can make a key difference in a home by setting the atmosphere of a room or helping showcase decor elements. LED bulbs deliver the same warm glow as traditional incandescents but use 84 percent less energy and last up to 20 years, according to Maxwell Ryan, founder and CEO of Apartment Therapy. Interior design expert Maria Samuels suggests multi-tiered chandeliers and other ornamental fixtures using LED lights to give a modern twist instead of traditional artificial illumination.
Artist and award-winning Austin designer Pablo Solomon sees a continuation of uncluttered, simple, practical, multifunctional and renewable designs. He recommends adopting the mantra "less is more" to focus on quality, not quantity, when it comes to art, rugs and furnishings.Tie interior design with outside landscape views to evoke a feeling of openness and flow from the inside out.
The Furniture Forecast
What's Old is New Again
Pila notes that 60s-inspired acrylic furnishings can be timeless when designed into a classic silhouette, with the pureness of the acrylic's clearness creating a striking effect. While designer Darlene Molnar predicts that velvet sofas will be a top trend in 2014, with jewel colors or gray bringing a soft elegance to rooms after years of sharp clean lines. And furniture designer Clint Parker notes that earth-friendly, sustainable eco-furniture is gaining steam, with new composites and fabrics such as hemp and sorghum making the concept more accessible.
Accessorize the Positive Anything goes in the world of accessories. Pila notes an African influence in lamps made of horn and Kuba cloths fashioned into pillows, rugs and blankets, while Ian Kennedy of Ruby + George touts Native American-inspired artwork, rugs and antlers passed down from generation to genera-
The Simple Life
Designer Linda Brettler, AIA, suggests finding creative ways to repurpose, recycle and reuse by relocating pieces from other rooms in the house or seeking out older, better-made items from architectural salvage sites. Salvaged or antique tiles can give an authentic patina to a historic home, and Brettler recommends mixing tile and stone so the look isn't so intense.
Finding Your Comfort Zone People are moving toward much more casual and interactive living, according to Elissa Morgante, principal at Morgante Wilson Architects. This translates into making all rooms in the home inviting and multifunctional, to foster togetherness in comfortable spaces that will actually be used. Hazard adds that practicality and individuality will dominate this year, with upholstery expected to bring presence and sophistication while still delivering all-day comfort.
Tranquil tones — especially white — offer a timeless backdrop against pops of vibrant colors and eclectic furnishings to create a space that's visually interesting without being overwhelming. In the kitchen, for example, glass front appliances in a cool white finish are especially prevalent in niche, high-end markets, but you can also achieve this look by having walls and cabinets painted or refinished in a variation of this hue. Installing creamy white fixtures can also help bring this aesthetic home in a different way.
Keep Your Technology in Check Innovative technology has infiltrated nearly every area of the home. Add smart features in areas that work best for your family, while being sure to keep things simple in parts of the home where technology may not always be desired. An electronic thermostat,like the Nest thermostat,which can be operated remotely outside of the home and gets to know your family's unique heating and cooling preferences, can help increase your home's overall efficiency. Conversely, other hightech gadgets, such as an umbrella dryer, may not be as practical for everyone. Be selective in what you choose to bring into your home and focus on investing in tools/appliances that will benefit the whole family to help keep your space from feeling too cluttered or messy.
Punctuate Your Space Sparingly With neutrals expected to dominate the color landscape, there's a growing interest in incorporating bold patterns throughout the home, whether isolated on an area rug or highlighted in the tiles on your kitchen backsplash. Bold accent colors, such as skydiver blue, lemon zest and even stark black are also becoming more prominent and will add intrigue to muted palettes. Be selective in what elements you want to stand out and incorporate patterns and bright colors sparingly to add visual interest and depth. A beautiful herringbone pattern in your wood floor, for example, could be lost if you choose to cover it with an extremely lively area rug. February 6, 2014
Publishers CLIFFORD RICHNER STUART RICHNER Executive Editor JOHN C. O’CONNELL Section Editor KAREN BLOOM
Editorial Designer JEFFREY A. NEGRIN Vice President of Sales RHONDA GLICKMAN Account Executives AUDREY COHEN SUSANNE COLTEN ROBERT CUMMINGS
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AT HOME is an advertising supplement to the HERALD Community Newspapers. Copyright © 2014 Richner Communications, Inc. Published by Richner Communications, Inc. 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530 (516) 569-4000 • www.liherald.com
BE INSPIRED Top design trends for
2014
Be Safe
Eliminate dangers with
some vital home safety
tips
STAY WARM
Get rid of those unwanted
Tidy up: your kids'
drafts
rooms
CCover Design D i JEFFREY A. A NEGRIN
February 6, 2014 — AT HOME - HERALD COMMUNITTY NEWSPAPERS
Simple tips for injecting new energy into your living space
¨ £ §ª¡ The right colors By Joseph Pubillones
W W
henever I tell people I am an interior designer, invariably they say, "I know what I like, but I am completely confused about how to pull it all together," or, "Oh, one day when I can afford to hire a designer, I will call you."
Creating a room that feels designed isn't rocket science. It's actually quite simple. I am going to share with you my "1-2-3" rule for the basic design of any room. No. 1: Select a beautiful color for the walls. Everyone down deep inside knows what colors he generally prefers. Take inspiration from anywhere and everything. It can come from the color of a favorite shirt, your car or the color of the sky at a particular time. My suggestion is this: Whatever that color is, select a pale, light version of it. For example, if the color you love is orange, consider using a soft peach or light apricot color for the walls. This will introduce the color palette of your preference into the room without overwhelming it. Of course, any woodwork or millwork in the room can be painted in another color. My favorite color for millwork is a soft white that is not too stark or bright. As with most things in life, the novelty of painting a room in a color that is
too vibrant will wear away, and you'll be left with the desire to repaint the room. No. 2: Stick to two main upholstery fabrics. The colors and prints should be complementary. One fabric can be a solid, whereas the other fabric might take on a print, such as a floral, plaid, animal spots or stripes. If you like a simpler and more tailored room, use the solid on the principal upholstery items, such as the sofa or a pair of club chairs. The other printed fabric can be used on smaller chairs or benches. If you prefer a bolder look, do the opposite; use the printed fabric on the larger main upholstered items, and keep the occasional pieces solid. No. 3: Bring in up to three other colors/prints/motifs to the room. This is your opportunity to personalize and jazz up the style of a room. Select other colors — e.g., a stronger version of the wall color — that will enhance and underline that original color you loved. These addi-
If you follow designer Joseph Pubillones' "1-2-3" rule when designing your room, you won't go wrong with your color scheme. tional colors can be introduced in pillows, rugs and accessories. You also can spike interest in a room by selecting a motif that you repeat over and over in different ways, colors and sizes. Following this simple "1-2-3" rule should take the mystery out of designing a room. Creating a successful room doesn't neces-
sarily mean that every item in the room has to match. As a matter of fact, there is something to be learned from slightly mismatched or quirky pairings. This is what gives a room personality. Be confident, and select what you really love. Your room will shine with your personality and style. Q
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February 6, 2014 — AT HOME - HERALD COMMUNITTY NEWSPAPERS
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© ¥¥ £ ©«¨ ©¤ § ¯ § ¨ This year’s vital home safety resolutions
SS
ome New Year's resolutions can be difficult to keep, such as exercising more and eating less junk food.
But resolutions that involve improving home safety can be just as worthwhile as those that deal with self-improvement — and often they're much easier to stick with. Boosting home safety in 2014 can be as simple as moving a flat screen TV from a TV stand to a wall mount, or setting your smart phone to remind you when it's time to change the batteries in smoke detectors. Here are a handful of vital but easy home safety resolutions everyone should undertake for the new year:
dren younger than 10. Minimizing the risk of such tragedy is as simple as wall mounting your flat screen TV. Hanging a TV on the wall moves it away from little hands or moments of adult clumsiness, plus it displays one of your biggest tech investments at its best. Homeowners have many options for wall mounting a TV, from mounts that keep the set flush against the wall to ones with a full range of tilt and motion.
1. Wall mount your flatscreen TV—or at the very least secure it.
Most of us move into a house with smoke detectors and don't think about them at all until they start to beep to alert us to a draining battery. Take a look at your detectors. If they're more than eight to 10 years old, you should replace them with newer models, regardless of whether they're battery-powered or hard-wired with a battery backup, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. If your smoke detectors are still new enough to stay in your home, your next step
The average flats creen weighs 50 pounds, and packs more than enough heft to injure children and even adults if it tips over on a person. From 2006 to 2011, more than 100,000 injuries resulted from tipped TVs, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). From 2000 to 2011, the CPSC says, 215 people died in accidents involving a falling TV and 96 percent of those fatalities were chil-
2. Get better acquainted with your smoke detectors.
should be to get on a regular schedule of battery replacement. Use your smartphone's calendar to set a quarterly reminder to prompt you when it's time to change the battery.
3. Check out your chimney. If your home has a wood-burning fireplace, it's imperative to clean your chimney every year to remove the dangerous buildup of creosote that can occur. A gas fieplace likely won't have a chimney, but you should also still have the vent periodically inspected by a professional to ensure everything is in working order.
4. Be wise about water. It's vital to life in any home, but water can
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pose serious safety risks — from accidental drowning to scalding from extremely hot bath water — if you don't respect it. In just three seconds, tap water at 140 degrees F can scald a child, causing thirddegree burns serious enough to require hospitalization and skin grafts, the CPSC reports. To prevent scalding, set your hot water heater to 120 F or lower, and always test bath water for temperature before placing a child in it, the CPSC recommends. Never leave a child unattended in a bathtub, not even for a moment — small children can drown in as little as one inch of water. Q
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February 6, 2014 — AT HOME - HERALD COMMUNITTY NEWSPAPERS
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February 6, 2014 — AT HOME - HERALD COMMUNITTY NEWSPAPERS
We Have Been Busy Over The Past 12 Months Selling Homes In Your Market. To Add Your Home to Our List of Successful Sales, Please Contact One of Our Local Branch Offices. Rockville Centre 516-536-8100 • Hewlett 516-374-0100 • Malverne 516-593-3028 Coach Realtors participated as either the listing or selling brokerage of these successfully closed homes between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013
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Rockville Centre Harvard Ave Virginia Ave Meadow Ln Windsor Ave Maine Ave Hampshire Rd S Village Ave Burtis Ave Arrandale Rd Cedar Ave N Forest Ave N Village Ave Amherst Ct Harvard Ave Leon Ct William St Fenway California St E Wood Rd Yale Pl Demott Ave Demott Ave Sherman Ave Raymond St Dartmouth St N Village Ave N Village Ave S Wood Rd Rockville Ave N Village Ave S Park Ave Atkinson Rd William St Demott Ave S Village Ave
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February 6, 2014 — AT HOME - HERALD COMMUNITTY NEWSPAPERS
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¤£¨ §« £ £ § ® The importance of turning lights off
By Diane Schlindwein
W W
hen you were a teenager, your parents probably not only told you to "turn down that music" but to also turn off the lights when you left a room.
You may or may not have listened then, but now as an adult, you really should pay attention to what experts have to say about conserving energy. "It's amazing what a difference simple behaviors can have on your comfort —and energy bills — in your home," says Barbara Buffaloe, a sustainability manager. "Just something as simple as opening and shutting curtains or blinds can really affect the temperature in a room." In the wintertime Buffaloe says it's best to keep the curtains open on the east, south and west sides of your home to allow those rooms to soak up the sun's free solar heat. "At night, you can close those curtains tightly and keep all of that warm air inside to keep the room more comfortable," she says. "Insulated curtains also help because they act as an additional layer of insulation." In the summer you'll want to close the curtains during the day. Paul Frantz, chief marketing officer of the energy supplier Energy Plus, advises that you "take control of home temperatures." "In winter set your thermostat to 68 degrees or less during the daytime and 55 degrees before going to sleep — or when you're away during the day," he says. "During the summer set thermostats to 78 degrees or more." Frantz also suggests using appliances efficiently. Set your refrigerator temperature at 38 to 42 F, while your freezer should be set between zero and 5 F. "Use the power-save switch if your fridge has one, and make sure the door seals tightly," he says. "You can check this by making sure that a dollar bill closed in between the door gaskets is difficult to pull out. If it slides easily between the gaskets, replace them." When in the kitchen, Frantz says to avoid "peeking" inside the oven more than neces-
sary. "Check the seal on the oven door and use a microwave oven for cooking or reheating small items," he says. When meals are finished, use your dishwasher wisely. "Wash only full loads in your dishwasher, using short cycles for all but the dirtiest dishes," he says. "This saves water and the energy used to pump and heat it. Air-drying, if you have the time, can also reduce energy use." Buffaloe says some appliances even use energy when they are off. Small electronics with LED lights and/or clocks on them are constantly pulling electricity. "The little red light on the DVD player and television doesn't have to be on when you're not watching television," she says. "Even some cellphone chargers pull electricity when no phone is plugged in. "The energy used by these electronics when not in use is called 'vampire load,' and it's a waste of energy that can add up over the course of a year," she says. Instead, Buffaloe suggests plugging in small electronics and chargers to a power strip that allows you the ease of turning off multiple 'vampire loads' with the click of one switch. While winter may seem endless, Buffaloe says to remember to control "the power you have on your own comfort." "Your grandmother was on to something when she said, 'You're cold? Put on a sweater.' Every blanket or layer of clothes adds an additional layer of insulation to your body — making you more comfortable in your own home or on the go. "You know that adding more insulation to your attic is good for your home energy bills," Buffaloe concludes. "Put that into practice with adding an additional layer onto your own body and you won't have to turn up the thermostat as high —and thus heat more space than you're even occupying." Q
§ ¥¡ © ¤¨ ¬ £ ¤¬¨ What a window upgrade can do for your home By Eric Christensen
M M
any people have experienced troublesome windows at one point or another. Mold and condensation are unsightly and unhealthy. Years of weathering can make windows difficult to open or close. And drafts can make your favorite room uncomfortable. Installing new windows will not only fix these problems, they can also improve your energy efficiency if you choose models that take advantage of new materials and manufacturing processes. Brian Ng, communications manager of the Energy Star Residential Branch, says the new windows use "a combination of glazings, tintings and reflective glass that helps keep solar heat out of the house. ... Some also use better frame materials that have foam insulation built inside of them that helps increase what is called the U-value of the windows, which is a measure of how well the window itself insulates. And some windows are filled with inert gasses like argon that keep solar heat out of house and that also slightly increases the U-value." Kerry Haglund, owner and founder of Haglund Design Inc. and one of Glass Magazine's 2012 Most Influential Individuals Impacting the Glass and Metal Industry, says, "The coating in the glazing surface has probably the most impact, but it is these technologies used in combination that have greatly affected the thermal performance of the whole window." Unfortunately, those technologies are measured using many technical terms that can be difficult for consumers to understand. U-value is measured on a scale of 0.25 to 1.25, and the lower the U-value, the better the insulation. Visible transmittance is the measure of how much light passes through the window, and it is measured on a scale of zero to one. The higher the number the more light that passes through. Solar heat gain coefficient measures how much solar heat passes through the window, on a scale of zero to one. Ng and Haglund say climates that are cold year-round should look for windows with a higher SHCG, while year-round hot climates should look for lower SHGC. Finally, condensation resistance is mea-
sured on a scale of zero to 100. The higher the rating the less condensation that will build up. But climate is not the only factor that should determine which windows to buy for your house. A crucial factor to consider is the orientation of your home. Ng says, "You will want to install south-facing windows with one SHGC, while northfacing windows will have another." Ng points out that consumers can visit the Energy Star website to look for windows based on climate and orientation. Haglund echoes this, saying: "Make sure the windows meet the local energy code and are Energy Star qualified. Look for the efficient properties on the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) label. The NFRC label displays whole-window energy properties, and it is the only reliable way to compare products. Choose products that are right for your home. Use tools found at efficientwindows.org to help educate yourself about the products." A third factor is installation. "Installation is key," Ng says. He recommends consumers "ask contractors if they have any certifications from manufacturers. Typically window manufacturers have their own certification programs for installation. There is also a body called the American Window and Door Institute, which certifies window installers." Finally, he notes that if your house was built before 1978, it may have lead paint on it, so homeowners should consult a lead professional before installing new windows. Energy-efficient windows will reduce a homeowner's heating and cooling costs. Ng says, "You're going to see improvements in energy efficiency, but the payback period is so long that it's usually not cost-efficient to install new windows if you're just looking for energy efficiency gains." If you are installing new windows, with a little research you can find the right energy-efficient windows for your climate and your home's orientation. And with the right installation, it will make your home more comfortable and reduce energy usage. Those troublesome windows need not bother you any longer. Q
® ©ĩ¨ ¤¡ £¨ v Rid your home of those unwanted drafts
Attic Homes that feature attics with pull-down stairs tend to be drafty. In such homes, a large hole is cut out of the ceiling so residents can access the attic. So instead of thick insulation, these homes may only have a sheet of plywood blocking your interior space from the outdoors, as many attics are directly vented to the roof.
To determine if there is a leak, turn on the attic light, close the attic door, and check to see if you can see the light on from below. If you can, then there is a gap letting both the light and air escape. In addition to using flexible rubber around the opening of the attic to better seal the door when it is closed, you can think about adding a thicker, more insulated door.
garages, basements and crawl spaces are not insulated. Use sealant around these pipes to block drafts into the home. Foam insulation can be sprayed into small crevices, where it will expand and harden, blocking off air access. These damp, cool spots are also great places for insects to enter the home. Sealing drafts also may prevent bugs from entering the home.
Dryer Vents
Fireplaces
The standard home laundry dryer vents outdoors via an exhaust duct. This duct is open to the outdoors, and it may be letting cold air into the home. That's because there is typically a flimsy flapper made of sheet metal on the outside of the vent to help protect against air infiltration. But over time dryer lint can accumulate at the vent opening, causing the metal flapper to stay open when it should close. Consider investing in dryer seals that close the vent when the dryer is not in use. Not only does this prevent cold air from entering the house, but also it keeps out pests, like bugs and rodents.
Pipes Check pipes that exit the home, such as those that feed outdoor water spigots, as such pipes can let cold air back into the house. The same can be said for waste pipes. Also, check to see if pipes that connect to
Although fireplaces often make for decorative and appealing accents to a home, many are not effective sources of ambient heat. They may draw more warm air out of the flue than they bring into the house. When a fireplace is not in use, air can rise out of the chimney and a draft can be felt in the home. Some studies indicate that an open damper on an unused fireplace, even in a well-insulated home, can increase overall heating and cooling energy consumption by 30 percent. If you simply must have a fireplace, remember to always keep the damper shut when the fireplace is not in use and use a glass cover you can seal tightly to further block the opening to the fireplace from your living space. Fireplace plugs, which can keep out drafts during the season when fireplaces are not in use, may also be a worthwhile investment.
February 6, 2014 — AT HOME - HERALD COMMUNITTY NEWSPAPERS
O
utside is freezing and your heating system is working overtime these days. So, if you haven’t done so, double check where you have pockets of cold air coming in. A home that is full of drafts is, of course, inefficient and expensive. And drafty homes are not just a problem when the weather is cold, as air that seeps in when you're trying to keep the home cool can be an inefficient nuisance as well. Higher energy bills and wasted resources do not have to be tolerated if you simply scour your home for drafts, sealing them to cut energy costs and make the home more comfortable. Drafts are often small cracks around windows and doors, but there are many other places where drafts can form. Knowing some of the less visible spots where drafts come from may help you to seal out unwanted cold air more effectively.
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Electrical Outlets Outlets and light switches can be significant sources of drafts in a home. Check to see that the switch plates are secure. If drafts still come through, then employ outlet draft blockers to prevent cool air from entering the home and warm air from exiting it. Q
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© ® ¡ § £ĩ¨ §¤¤¢¨ Essential organizing tips
By Sharon Naylor
K K
ids' rooms are often a chaos of clothing, colors and craft items. Parents strive to keep some sense of order in their little ones' rooms, often experiencing aggravation when youngsters don't follow cleanup directions. One way to reduce the struggle, and give kids an organized, clean living space where they can play in peace, is to create a new organizing plan for the room's biggest opportunity for order: the closet. Robert Guerin, owner of the professional closet design company Hang It Up Closets, says that "when a child grows up in an organized, neat room, good skills are developed for later in life." As kids learn their new organizing system, they're also learning their colors, matching items and thinking about item function — lessons that may help them in school and stick with them to create a foundation of order in their adult lives. A key to organizing kids' closets is formulating a plan that can be easily and inexpensively adjusted as they grow. At the start, decide if you want to hire a professional closet organizer to construct the ideal layout of bars for hanging clothes, floor-to-ceiling cubbies and higher shelving features. Or you might wish to tackle your closet organizing plan on your own, using these top suggestions:
1. Start by pulling everything out. Have four bins nearby, marked "Current," "Donate," "Hand-Me-Downs" and "Trash." With an entirely empty space before you, and items in their bins, thoroughly clean the closet walls, ceilings and floor, and consider painting the closet interior. Kids can help
choose their desired color, and stencils and wall clings can add a fun, decorative flair to parts of the wall visible beneath hanging clothes or on the side walls.
2. Install double bars for kids' clothes, set low enough for your child to be able to hang his or her own clothing. Since kids' clothing is short and thin, hang one rod higher and further back in the closet, with the second rod lower and toward the front. Kids can then hang up their clothes with more space between each item, for easier viewing — or your older child can claim the back bar, while your smaller child gets the front bar. Make hanging up clothing easier and more fun for kids by investing in colorful plastic hangers. As a rainy day project, kids can affix small stickers of their choice to the center point of the hanger just below the hook. This gives kids ownership of their hanger collection, which may inspire better use of them.
3. Set colorful fabric bins on the closet floor, such as bright pinks or apple greens, with pictures on the front for pre-readers or large letter identification labels for older kids. These labels identify what's to be placed in these lidless bins. Laundry is more easily deposited, especially when you teach kids to stand a few feet away and score "baskets" with their dirty socks and shirts. Another bin might be for stuffed animals, giving beloved teddy bear collections a cozy home "where they can all be together." 4. Plan tall enough shelves in built-ins. Meryl Starr, professional organizer and author of "The Organizing Workbook," suggests shelving heights that allow for a 6- to 12-inch pile of folded clothes. When cubbies or shelves have
Get the kids closets organized, to end that "clean your room" battle. room on top, it's easier for kids to retrieve the shirt they want without the entire pile of shirts falling to the floor (and staying there).
5. Use hanging organizers for smaller items. A hanging fabric shoe rack can be used for shoes and also for kids' little purses and dress-up items like tiaras. A hanging travel organizer intended for toiletries can hold jewelry, craft items, small toys and other tiny things. Q
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February 6, 2014 — AT HOME - HERALD COMMUNITTY NEWSPAPERS
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