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Home & Garden A Marketing Supplement of Sauk Valley Media

Thursday, September 15, 2016

www.saukvalley.com

Sauk Valley Media • C1

Keeping things creative Something old, as reproductions of early-century lighting grow in popularity

BY SHELBY KUEPKER Special to SVM

STERLING – It’s been 30 years since Steve and Pam Workman opened Creative Kitchens & Bath.

They sell cabinets for any area of the house you can think of, but their main business, like the name says, is kitchens and bathrooms. The provide not only good design, but also the nuts and bolts of good design: countertops, sinks, hardware, and accessories.

The Workmans, both 61, have been selling Holiday Cabinetry since 1990. The Rice Lake, Wisconsin, custom cabinet manufacturer has been in business more than 70 years.

Don’t let that word “custom” scare you away, though.

Holiday also offers a variety of options, which allows them to compete with the big box stores.

Steve and Pam’s mission is to help their customers pick and choose every little detail of their projects, all while sticking to their budget. When it comes to designing a kitchen or bath, good service and good advice are paramount, Pam said. They’re ready with as much help as you need, whether you know exactly what you want or have no clear idea.

“We want to make it a good experience. We will work through the process, however fast or slow the customer wants,” Pam said.

The process usually begins with a tour around their showroom, examining the different cabinet construction and options, followed by a home visit from Steve, tape measure in hand.

The Workmans were married in 1975, they have two children, Amy and Jason, and three grandsons with another on the way!

Steve Workman has been in the cabinet business since the mid 70’s. Prior to opening Creative Kitchens, he worked out of Rockford and was on the road a lot. With a then growing family, he wanted to work closer to home. He and Pam saw that their current building was for sale, and on a whim, decided it was time to start their own business! tough finish, “something that is hard to achieve in a local shop,” Pam said.

Customers also pick and choose the little things that add character, such as washes and glazes.

“There are lots of things you can do to achieve different finishes on the paint,” Pam said.

With Holiday Cabinetry, Creative Kitchens can offer a lot more than your typical cabinet provider. The cabinetry can be customized to size in 1/8-inch increments, and in oak, hickory, alder, maple, cherry, and quarter sawn oak, all in various stains, paints, and glazes.

The Workmans then help choose accessories: a rollout wastebasket, some nice glass work, or super lazy Susans, or other details, such as the edge shapes of doors and drawers, and the decorative hardware – all the little odds and ends that will make your kitchen perfect for you. One thing Creative Kitchens offers that you just can’t find just anywhere is the personal attention they put into your designs.

After the top coat is applied, all Holiday Cabinetry is baked in infrared ovens, which makes for a nice,

Steve gets help from a computer program, but, unlike other businesses, he never lets the computer do the

actual design. A computer can fill the space, but can’t use logic to decide what or why. Steve takes the time to personally design the layout of every project, incorporating both his and the customer’s ideas, to get the best possible outcome.

It takes 6 to 8 weeks for your special cabinets to be delivered, and during that time, the Workmans work with you to pick out countertops. They offer granite, quartz, and Cambria countertops in numerous colors, as well as solid surface and laminates.

They also can arrange the delivery and installation, and can even help line up an electrician or a plumber.

At Creative Kitchens, collaboration is key.

“We want to give people the kitchen that they’ve always dreamed of,” Pam said.

“The kitchen is the life of the party, for sure.”

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C2 • Sauk Valley Media

www.saukvalley.com

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Fixing vegetable garden failures

Adjust your irrigation and fertilizer.

PEPPERS & EGGPLANTS Fruit will not set when nighttime temperatures fall below 58 degrees or when daytime temps are above 85.

By Joan Morris Tribune News Service

Tomatoes with rotten ends, squash that never produced, plant leaves covered with white powder — even the most accomplished gardener might face these troubles each year.

Plant in the sunniest areas possible and give plants space to improve air circulation.

If you catch it early in plants that are more vulnerable, you can use a fungicide on the plants, or you can use a horticulture oil to smother the spores. Don’t use both, Lippert warns, at the combination likely will kill the plant.

Contra Costa Master Gardener Terry Lippert says there are lessons to be learned from these problems.

Here are her tips on identifying what went wrong and fixing it for next season.

FRUIT FAILS TO DEVELOP Some plants produce both male and female flowers, which have to get together in order for fruit to develop and mature. If you had zucchini, cucumbers and melons that produced few or no fruits, chances are poor pollination is to blame.

BLOSSOM END ROT Tomatoes and squash often develop this condition that causes the bottom end of the fruit to turn brown and mushy. It’s caused by widely fluctuating soil moisture that prevents the plant from taking in calcium.

POWDERY MILDEW The appearance of white powder on the leaves of squash, melons and cucumbers is almost a given as the season goes on. The mildew is caused by a fungus, usually associated with wet conditions.

TOMATO PROBLEMS Often blossoms will form and then fall off, or fruit doesn’t set. Nighttime temperatures below 55 degrees or daytime temperatures above 90 may be to blame.

Plant a little later in the spring, or protect plants with row cover or shade cloth.

Catfacing is cracking at the blossom end of the tomato, which is caused by low temperatures during flowering and fruit set.

Growing ornamentals to attract pollinators will help.

You also can hand pollinate the plants by rubbing a male flower inside the female.

If your plant only has one sex of flower, crush a leaf on the plant. That usually will encourage the plant to put out flowers of the other sex.

The solution is to maintain a consistent watering schedule and add lots of organic material to the soil before planting.

Low light also can inhibit fruit set.

The solution? Plant in full sunlight.

Peppers and eggplants also are prone to developing leathery discolorations. These are caused by sunburn.

Keep plants covered with shade cloth until the leaves on the plants are large enough to shade the fruit.

BITTER CUCUMBERS A bitter taste in cucumbers may be caused by extreme dry or hot temperatures, overwatered soils or poor fertility.

Not much you can do about the weather, but the good news is this is more of a visual problem. The catfacing doesn’t harm the fruit, although you may lose a little when you cut it off.

Cracking around the stem end is caused by rain or excessive irrigation. Exposure to high temperatures also can cause cracking.

Check your watering schedule.

Ripening can slow down in the late summer because you may have lost some leaves, or the temperatures and soil gets too hot.

Cover the plants with shade cloth, or just be patient.

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Thursday, September 15, 2016

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Sauk Valley Media • C3

Pickling and preserving summer’s bounty

with sauerkraut and cover with juices, leaving a half inch of head space.

Process hot pack pints for 10 minutes and quarts for 15; for raw pack, process pints for 20 minutes and quarters for 25.

By Joan Morris Tribune News Service

from the cabbage head, then weight it down with marbles, a heavy plate or whatever works for you.

Cover with a clean bath towel and place it in a dry and dark place.

The first week, Mosbacher says, the fermenting cabbage will smell like dirty gym socks, but the smell will dissipate by the next week.

Watch for the formation and movement of bubbles, indicating the fermenting process is occurring. When the bubbles stop moving, after about three weeks, the process is complete.

Pickling your garden produce not only extends the life of your garden, it’s fairly easy to do and rewards you with increased health benefits.

Sue Mosbacher, master food preserver program coordinator for the UC

Sauerkraut can safely be kept in the refrigerator for several months. For longer storage, process it in a boiling water or steam canner, using either the hot pack or raw pack method.

For hot pack, bring sauerkraut and liquid slowly to a boil in a large kettle, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and fill jars rather firmly, leaving a half-inch of head space. In the raw pack method, fill jars firmly

PICKLED BEETS You’ll need 7 pounds of 2- to 2 1/2-inch diameter beets, 4 cups of vinegar (5 percent), 1 1/2 teaspoons of canning salt, 2 cups of sugar, 2 cups of water, 2 cinnamon sticks, 12 whole cloves and four to six onions.

Trim off beet tops, leaving an inch of stem and roots to prevent bleeding of color. Wash thoroughly and sort for size.

Cover similar sizes together with boiling water and cook until tender, about 25 to 30 minutes. Drain and discard liquid and cool beets.

Trim off roots and stems and slip off skins.

Slice into quarter-inch slices; peel and thinly slice onions.

Combine vinegar, salt, sugar and fresh water. Put spices in cheesecloth ban and add to vinegar mixture.

Bring to a boil.

Add beets and onions; simmer for 5 minutes.

Remove spice bag.

Fill jars with beets and onions, leaving a half-inch of head space. Add hot vinegar solution, allowing halfinch of head space. Adjust lids

Process in boiling water or steam canner for 30 minutes.

Cooperative Extension in Placerville, Calif., says fermented foods help with the digestive system. Some caution is needed, Mosbacher says, but if you follow the recipes and the rules, you’ll be fine.

Here are some of Mosbacher’s tips: THINGS TO KNOW — When working to preserve foods, wear an apron to protect the food from anything you might have on your clothes, tie your hair back or wear a hat, and wear gloves.

— Before using, inspect your jars for cracks, chips or imperfections that might lead to breakage.

— Use canning salt, also known as pickling salt, in your fermenting recipes. Canning salt is the purest type of salt available.

— If you want to use other salts, check the ingredient list. Most salts, including kosher salt, contains an anti-caking agent that can affect taste and measurements.

— The key to successful and safe canning is processing the food long enough to kill pathogens. That’s why it’s important to follow the instructions to the letter.

— Don’t use your grandmother’s recipes. Generations ago the acidity of vinegar was much higher than it is now (up to 15 percent).

— As the spices are usually what makes the recipe special, Mosbacher recommends using a current, standard recipe that uses our standard 5 percent vinegar, and then use the old recipe for the flavors.

— Preserved foods can be kept for a long time but Mosbacher recommends eating them within a year for the best flavors and nutritional benefits.

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Work with about 5 pounds of cabbage at a time.

Remove and save outer leaves. Rinse heads under cold running water and drain. Cut heads in quarters and remove cores; shred or slice cabbage to the thickness of a quarter.

Put cabbage in a suitable fermentation container and add 3 tablespoons of canning salt. Mix thoroughly with clean hands and pack firmly until the salt draws juices from the cabbage.

Repeat shredding, salting and packing until all cabbage is in the container. Be sure it is deep enough so that the rim of the container is at least 4 to 5 inches above the cabbage.

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C4 • Sauk Valley Media

www.saukvalley.com

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Upholstery is getting livelier thanks to peppy fabrics and bold colors

By Patricia Sheridan Tribune News Service

Designer Dana Gibson showed off a bold buffalo check on Parthie spindl-framed chairs for MT Company.

HIGH POINT, N.C. — You can’t help but sit up and take notice of today’s boldly upholstered chairs. A chair is just a place to plop until it’s dressed in the new, brighter solid and patterned fabrics that are lifting the profile of upholstery.

“Color is powerful!” insisted Holly Blalock of CR Laine at the Spring High Point Market.

“There is no doubt that it’s the color and artwork of the textiles on upholstery that creates the emotion behind our brand,” she said.

CR Laine is known for its fabric choices, some exclusive to the company, but it is how they are applied that makes the difference. The company offers more than 800 fabrics and leathers, giving customers a real choice in how their upholstered pieces will look.

“The Grace swivel chair from our Tobi Fairley for CR Laine collection is upholstered in our Garden Party Indigo, a vintage-style print that’s been given a happy and chic update by using only varying shades of blue,” Blalock said.

Grace swivel chairs from the Tobi Fairley for CR Laine collection are done in Garden Party Indigo.

Beach Towel Bombay fabric by the Blush Label covers the Jackson chair from Taylor Burke Home.

Blue has been popular for several markets now, but other colors are demanding attention as well. John Robshaw’s Rafi daybed for Duralee, a textile company, uses both form and fabric to transport a space from pleasant to exotic. Robshaw debuted his Duralee collection during the Spring Market.

“His inspiration came from Morocco and India, especially for the Rafi day bed,” said merchandising representative Victoria Madonna.

This unique piece, with a down and feather cushion making for a soft landing, will add a pulse to a stark contemporary space, or spice up a classic setting. .

The Rafi day bed by John Robshaw for Duralee uses form and fabric to transform a space.

Going painterly with an exclusive printed velvet from Italy is Highland House. Its Morehead parsonstyle chair is covered in colors that could have been scraped from Monet’s palette.

Photos: (Patricia Sheridan/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/TNS)

“Fabric choices are instrumental in setting the tone of a room,” noted artist and designer Dana Gibson.

For her eponymous collection for the MT Company, she used a beefy buffalo check called Bon Air in raspberry to upholster its Parthie chairs. “It suggests a casual weekend vibe,” she said.

Design Legacy's new Melton chair in Green Guinea fabric.

Another casual look came from Design Legacy’s new Melton chair, tightly upholstered in Green Guinea fabric. Also playing with pattern and color was the Jackson chair by Taylor Burke Home. It was covered in a bright Beach Towel Bombay from the Blush label family of fabrics.

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North Carolina-based Lee Industries is an awardwinning upholstered furniture maker known for being eco-friendly. Whether offering a bold stripe, bright solid or classic pattern with a twist, its collections are a staple for many retailers and designers. Its designers dressed a traditional English armchair in a cabana blue-and-white striped fabric called Hammock Marine.

“We have updated this classic to fit into any modern lifestyle,” said Lee marketing director Bondi Coley.

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Also using a simple contrast to make a statement was the chaise by Mary McDonald for Chaddock. Its black velvet body is set off by a bright white wood frame.

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Although it has a certain time-worn elegance, you won’t find Wesley Hall’s nail-head-trimmed Heathcliff wing chair covered in Bonsai Indigo/Westbury Night fabric in your grandmother’s house.

“Color and pattern are what makes a room go from ordinary to memorable, and there is no easier way to add this detail than in a lively textile or fabric,” said Gibson, the designer.

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Sauk Valley Media • C5

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Cold weather can be tough on a home, and perhaps no part of a home is more vulnerable to harsh winter weather than its roof.

Fallen snow can equate to several pounds of pressure placed on a residential roof.

Roofs do not often collapse under heavy snowfall. But adverse winter weather conditions can compromise roofs in other ways. Water leakage and damage to the roof’s interior are just two of the potentially problematic issues that can arise when roofs are battered by cold, blustery weather. That’s why many home improvement specialists advise homeowners to conduct roof inspections prior to the start of winter.

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Inspect a roof each fall to get an idea of the potential damage and any necessary repairs that may be needed before nasty weather sets in.

Many homeowners can conduct their own cursory roof inspections, but they may not know exactly what to look for. The National Roofing Contractors Association says that there are certain key areas to inspect that may reveal some telltale signs of roof damage.

• Curled, cracked or missing shingles may prove troublesome. Inclement weather can test the strength of even the most durable roofs. Even though many roofs are designed to last up to 30 years, some may need to be replaced early, particularly when they have been exposed to harsh weather over a period of years. Individual shingles can be replaced as spot treatments, but if the damage is widespread, a new roof may be necessary.

• Attic leaks or water elsewhere might signal issues with the roof. Figure out if water inside the home is coming from the roof. Water stains do not always indicate problems with the roofing, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

• Look for protective granules wearing off. If gutters are filled with the sandy granular material that coats roofing shingles, that may be a sign of an aging or damaged roof.

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• Inspect flashing. Professional roofers can recognize properly installed flashing, the material that connects the roof to other parts of the house that adjoin the roof, like skylights or a chimneys. Poorly installed flashing can cause leaks. Stains that appear below chimneys or near attic windows may indicate new flashing, and not new shingles, is needed.

• Animals and insects can cause damage, too. It’s not just poor weather that homeowners need to consider with regard to roof damage. Boring insects and animals may cause problems with roofs as well. A roof inspection may shed light on potential pest problems. Holes or nesting materials may indicate that an animal or animals are using the attic as a shelter from the elements.

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C6 • Sauk Valley Media

www.saukvalley.com

Thursday, September 15, 2016

3 pre-winter lawn care pointers (MS)

Winter weather can be harsh, especially on lawns. Homeowners who spend much of spring and summer tending to their lawns may fear the impact that winter will have on their once-lush landscapes, making the fall a great time to fortify lawns against any harsh conditions to come.

Homeowners must take grass type into consideration before taking steps to prepare their lawns for the winter. Some grasses are best fertilized in late-summer, while others should be fertilized in autumn. Cool-season grasses, including fescue and bluegrass, are best fertilized sometime between the months of September and November. Warm-season grasses, such as Bermuda or zoysia, should be fertilized between July and September. Once homeowners have gained a greater understanding of their lawns, they can begin exploring the various ways to prepare their lawns for whatever winter has in store.

1. Explore winterizing fertilizers.

Homeowners who want to make their grasses more winter hardy can consult landscaping professionals to determine if winterizing fertilizers will work for their lawns. These specially formulated fertilizers, many of which are made exclusively for cool-season grasses, contain higher levels of potassium and lower levels of nitrogen than early-season fertilizers. Potassium helps strengthen and harden plants, and cool-season grasses may need extra potassium as winter settles in.

Homeowners who are not sure if they should apply winterizing fertilizer can conduct soil tests to determine the potassium levels in their soil. If the test indicates the soil has sufficient potassium, then applying a winterizing fertilizer is likely unnecessary. In addition, homeowners who have fed their lawn a balance of nutrients throughout spring and summer likely will not need to apply winterizing fertilizer.

2. Get rid of fallen leaves.

While fallen leaves may be integral components of idyllic autumn landscapes, leaves left on the lawn throughout the winter may lead to disease in the grass.

Leaves trap moisture and block sunlight and air from reaching grass, and that can encourage the development of disease. In addition, leaves can harbor insects that also may contribute to disease. While it might seem like common sense to delay leaf removal until the end of autumn when all the leaves have fallen, that, too, can prove harmful to lawns. Leaves left laying on lawns for long periods of time can contribute to the same types of damage as leaves left on the lawn throughout winter, so do your best to remove leaves as they fall.

3. Take steps to fight snow mold.

Homeowners who live in regions where snow falls into spring or where spring tends to be cold and damp may want to take steps to prevent snow mold. Gray snow mold typically looks fuzzy and gray, and lawns infested with snow mold may develop unsightly gray or brown spots indicative of dead grass. Pink snow mold may be even worse than gray snow mold because pink mold attacks the roots as well as the leaves. To prevent snow mold, continue mowing into the fall, even as lawns grow dormant, clearing the lawn of grass clippings and leaves after each mow. Thick lawns may provide a breeding ground for snow mold, so homeowners whose lawns have a history of developing snow mold may benefit from mowing their lawns into the fall.

Winter is rarely easy on lawns, but homeowners can take several steps to prepare their lawns for potentially harsh winter weather.

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Thursday, September 15, 2016

www.saukvalley.com

Sauk Valley Media • C7

Protect pipes from freezing this winter (MS)

Freezing pipes are a concern for homeowners who live in cold climates. When temperatures dip below freezing, the risk that pipes will freeze rises. Should a pipe burst, the damage that results can be extensive and costly.

Any pipe can freeze, but those that are directly exposed to the cold are the most vulnerable. These include pipes that feed outdoor hoses, swimming pool supply lines, pipes in unheated indoor rooms (i.e., basements or garages), and any pipes that run close to the outdoors through uninsulated walls.

Water expands as it freezes, and that expansion can place pressure on whatever is trying to contain it — including pipes.

To avoid serious damage, homeowners need to prepare for the arrival of colder weather and be smart about how they protect pipes.

• Drain water from swimming pools and water sprinkler supply lines prior to the onset of cold weather.

Drain water before freezing temperatures arrive, and don’t forget to drain outdoor garden hoses and store them inside after watering season has come and gone.

• Close indoor water valves that feed outdoor spigots/ bibs. Open the spigot outside to allow water to drain out. Keep the outside valve open so that any water that has accumulated will continue to drain and expand outward without damaging the pipe.

An insulated bib dome also can help prevent frozen pipes.

• Open cabinet doors to allow heat to reach pipes inside of cabinets. Keep the doors open to spaces that may not be heated or insulated as well as other areas of the home so that heat can find its way inside. Consider wrapping these pipes with an insulating material as well, such as heat tape or pipe sleeves.

• Maintain a consistent thermostat temperature.

Ensure the temperature inside your home does not drop below 55 F; otherwise, problems can arise. Use a programmable thermostat to keep the house comfortable even when you are not home. Individuals who are traveling should set the thermostat so that it will keep the home at the recommended temperature

to avoid frozen pipes.

• Open one faucet. When it is very cold outside, particularly at night, let water slowly drip from one faucet to prevent freezing. Choose the sink that is furthest from where water enters the house so water is flowing through all of the pipes to reach that faucet.

• Increase insulation around where pipes enter the house. Use insulating foam to seal any drafts where pipes enter the house from the outdoors.

Frozen pipes cannot always be avoided. Therefore, it is important that everyone in the household knows how to shut off the main water valve in the event a pipe bursts. This can prevent expensive damage to a home.

Did you know?

(MS)

The arrival of cooler weather marks a prime time to plant bulbs that will bloom come spring and summer. Bulbs should be planted as soon as the ground is cool, ideally when temperatures average between 40 and 50 F. Just be sure to plant bulbs at least six weeks before the ground freezes for optimal success. Always follow the bulb distributor’s guidelines for planting, including suggestions regarding spacing and soil depth. Remove any weeds and loosen the soil to get started. In addition, think about mixing in compost or other organic matter to enrich the soil if it lacks nutrients.

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