Skagit Home Style & Garden

Skagit

HomE style & Garden

Spring 2018

A Home Improvement Guide

A supplement to the Skagit Valley Herald and Anacortes American

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Contents

SKAGIT PUBLISHING 1215 Anderson Road Mount Vernon, WA 98274 ads@skagitads.com P: 360.424.3251 F: 360.424.5300 Restocking: 360.424.3251 ©2018 Skagit Publishing All rights reserved.

INTERIOR DESIGN 2 Spring Refresh 6 Change of Season, Change of Linens WELCOME SPRING 3 Dress Up Your Windows FLEX YOUR GREEN THUMB 4 Spring Garden Planning 14 Bugs In My Yard – Why That’s a Good Thing EXTERIOR FEATURES 7 Living the Cabana Life EFFICIENCY 9 Spring Energy Saving Tips ENVIRONMENT 12 Take Additional Steps to Improve Recycling INDOORS 17 Spring Cleaning Checklist

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SPRING HOME & GARDEN | INTERIOR DESIGN

Spring Refresh W

ith spring well on its way, it’s time to say goodbye to all that is gray and dreary. Our focus now is on welcoming the fresh air and bright colors.

Spring is a time for new beginnings, and everything is in bloom. Why not have your home follow suit? Here are a just a few inexpensive ways to freshen up your home decor for the new year.

Think Lighter Say so long to heavy drapes and thick throws. You can do a lot to brighten up a room by changing out your linens.

Introduce throw pillows in pastel colors and exchange the chenille for a soft cotton throw. Open up those heavy drapes, give them a good dusting and allow the sunshine to warm the room.

The lighter and brighter a room becomes, the more like spring it will feel.

Bring in Fresh Flowers Whether you pick up a fresh bouquet at the supermarket or potted ferns are more your style, there is nothing like adding a little greenery pieces that give you joy while giving to liven up a room. your space a whole new look.

Bringing a little piece of nature Even changing out your photos indoors will help connect the inside for newer ones or snapshots from of your home to all that is blooming vacation can update your space in a outside. hurry.

Change Up Your Art

Declutter

The most important feature when Winter brings with it an influx of it comes to choosing art is sticking decor for the holiday season. While with what makes you happy. Choose that extra cheer is welcomed in the 2

HOMEstyle & Garden 2018

colder months, that same decor can begin to feel oppressive once the seasons begin to change.

Spring is the time to take inventory of your things — store holiday decor, go through the stacks of magazines and put away items from other areas of the house that have migrated into your main living space. Make everything new. goskagit.com

SPRING HOME & GARDEN | WELCOME SPRING

Dress Up Your Windows W

indows are major players in home design. How they are dressed and framed from the exterior lends to the curb appeal of your home.

Keeping them clean and dressed with drapery inside will affect the overall mood of a room and how much natural light a room receives.

All of this is to say don’t ignore your windows.

Adding or Repairing Shutters Shutters add so much to the curb appeal of your home. Making

sure yours are in good shape is a worthwhile investment.

Each year, inspect your shutters.

Do they need a new coat of paint?

Are they secured properly with no loose screws? If your home lacks shutters, consider adding them.

There are few architectural styles that shutters work against, so be sure to consult with your local window and gutter installation company.

Dressing Window Boxes If you have window boxes, spring is the ideal time to clean continued on page 5

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SPRING HOME & GARDEN | FLEX YOUR GREEN THUMB

Spring Garden Planning

This spring, plan your best garden ever — or maybe even your first garden ever.

The first step to achieving a well-organized garden is planning.

Here’s what you need to know.

it you want to plant and which vegetables you want to plant next to one another.

Talk With Local Experts

Tomatoes, peppers, zucchini squash and lettuce are good vegetables for beginners. Don’t forget to contact your local nursery to see what grows best in your area.

If this is your first time planning a garden, consult with a regional garden-planting guide. You can find one at most hardware stores or nurseries.

If you are a seasoned pro, you probably are already familiar with the timing of your last frost, but you might find some new information by checking with your local professionals.

Choose a location on your property that receives a lot of sun.

Vegetables need at least six hours of direct sunlight each day to grow properly. You also need a space with good, loose soil.

Seeds Vs. Seedlings

If a large garden intimidates you, consider a raised bed. You choose the size and even create a separate area for each vegetable, only taking on what you want.

If you are just starting out, seedlings are a safer option. There is no need for you to nurture seeds from infancy when you’re trying to get a handle on your gardening strategy.

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If you prefer to grow your own, start your seeds inside several weeks before your last frost date.

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Beginners: Choosing a Plot

Create a Worksheet This is where you decide what you want to plant, how much of HOMEstyle & Garden 2018

Skipping the Veggies You also could skip planting vegetables altogether and stick with herbs. Not only are they great for seasonal cooking, but they also smell fantastic and each has a unique beauty to it. Plant in beds or in pots. The choice is yours. goskagit.com

WINDOWS from page 3

them out and prep them for foliage. Swing by your local hardware store or nursery and choose annuals with lots of color to fill them.

If you do not currently have window boxes, consider adding them to the mix. Window boxes add texture and flare to the exterior of any home.

Introducing New Draperies If you recently replaced your drapes or love the ones you currently have, don’t underestimate what a good cleaning will do for them.

Check the tags and see if yours are machine washable. If not, you may have to take your drapes to the dry cleaners. This trip will be well worth it when you see how much brighter they look rehung across your windows.

A Good Power Wash After a winter full of dreary weather and high wind chills, your windows are not at their peak performance when it comes to light.

Give them a good scrub inside before heading outside to hit up their exterior panes. If your windows are double-hung, this will be a much easier task. Always follow safety instructions on cleaning equipment, especially when you’re dealing with glass.

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SPRING HOME & GARDEN | INTERIOR DESIGN

W

Change of Season, Change of Linens

e tend to shut our homes up during the winter months and perform our own version of hibernating.

And while we enjoy the cozy feeling this hibernation provides, it also can induce poor circulation of air and accumulation of dust and germs. Washing and changing out your linens is a necessary stage of spring cleaning.

Go through every room thoroughly, and be sure to wash any winter items before storing. By the end, your home will be a brighter, cleaner version of itself.

Bedrooms Say goodbye to all those heavy comforters, and welcome in light summer quilts. Changing out your bedding for lighter fabrics in an attractive print will go a long way toward freshening your bedroom.

Since spring can still be cool, keep a cozy but light throw at the foot of your bed. Not only does it

make for an easy grab in the middle of the night, but will soften the look of your spring bedding.

Living Areas Think throws, pillows and draperies. Not only is it good to change out these items for their lighter counterparts, but it also is smart to begin storing excess.

Spring requires fewer layers, so start putting away what you know you won’t use. Give your draperies a good wash and inspect your blinds.

Keeping a space clean and bright is the trick to a quick “freshen up.”

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HOMEstyle & Garden 2018

continued on page 8

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SPRING HOME & GARDEN | EXTERIOR FEATURES

Living the Cabana Life

a clean, safe and attractive pool. By staying on top of pool maintenance, you will ward off major costs down the road.

Here are some key steps:

Thinking ahead when it comes to • Drain your pool cover and clean it before storing it for the season. your pool will ensure you are partyready come warmer weather.

• Inspect your pool’s tile or lining

Putting in a Pool

and look for cracks or potentials for leaks.

Thinking of adding a pool to your backyard oasis? Here are few things • Consider adding water to your pool. Proper water levels are to keep in mind as you plan. important for your pool skimmer • Know the basics of what you want to run properly. before requesting quotes. Do you • Turn on all equipment to make want an above- or below-ground sure everything is running pool? What general size are you looking to install?

• It’s also important to be flexible on size if you aren’t too constrained by your property. Allow yourself the imagination of going a little wider or longer than you first considered.

• Understand the difference between vinyl, concrete and fiberglass. Not every material suits every need.

Refreshing Your Existing Pool Diligence is required to maintain

properly. If there is a problem, you don’t want to find out the weekend before a pool party.

Don’t Forget About the Toys It is always a good idea to inspect your pool toys and floats before every season to be sure they are clean and safe.

Winter storage can produce mold or break down certain materials — weakening them and making them unsafe. Replace toys and floats that have been compromised and give toys that have survived the winter a good scrub before using them.

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hen spring arrives, summer is just a hop, skip and jump away. There is nothing like relaxing by the pool on a hot summer’s day.

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hard on door mats — both indoor and outdoor.

LINENS from page 6

Kitchen Towels and Door Mats These often are forgotten items that can have a major impact on the freshness and cleanliness of your home. Winter weather can be

Replacing these with fresh mats will not only help keep the effects of spring showers out of your house but gives you the opportunity to introduce a spring design.

And don’t forget those kitchen

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HOMEstyle & Garden 2018

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SPRING HOME & GARDEN | EFFICIENCY

Spring Energy-Saving Tips W

ith the start of a new season comes a fresh opportunity to find ways to save energy and money.

The following tips from the U.S. Department of Energy can help.

1. Service your air conditioner. Easy maintenance, such as routinely replacing or cleaning air filters, can lower your cooling system’s energy consumption by up to 15 percent.

Also, the first day of spring could serve as a reminder to check your air conditioner’s evaporator coil, continued on page 10

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TIPS from page 9

which should be cleaned annually to ensure the system is performing at optimal levels.

2. Open windows.

Opening windows creates a cross-breeze, allowing you to naturally cool your home without switching on air conditioners. This is an ideal tactic in spring, when temperatures are mild.

3. Use ceiling fans. Cooling your home with ceiling fans will allow you to raise your thermostat four degrees. This can help lower your electricity bills without sacrificing overall comfort.

4. Cook outside.

On warmer spring days, keep the heat out of your home by using an outdoor grill instead of indoor ovens. continued on page 11

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HOMEstyle & Garden 2018

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TIPS from page 10

5. Install window treatments. Energy-efficient window treatments or coverings, such as blinds, shades and films, can slash heat gain when temperatures rise. These devices not only improve the look of your home but also reduce energy costs.

6. Caulk air leaks. Using low-cost caulk to seal cracks and openings in your home to keep warm air out — and cash in your wallet.

7. Bring in sunlight.

During daylight hours, switch off artificial lights and use windows and skylights to brighten your home.

8. Set the thermostat.

On warm days, setting a programmable thermostat to a higher setting when you are not at home can help reduce your energy costs by approximately 10 percent.

9. Seal ducts.

Air loss through ducts can lead to high electricity costs, accounting for nearly 30 percent of a cooling system’s energy consumption. Sealing and insulating ducts can go a long way toward lowering your electricity bills.

10. Switch on bathroom fans. Bathroom fans suck out

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SPRING HOME & GARDEN | ENVIRONMENT

Take Additional Steps to Improve Recycling

by Callie Martin For the Skagit Valley Herald

T

his may be the New Year to make your resolution one to become a committed recycler.

In January, China rolled out a policy to ban imports of foreign waste. Known as the ‘China Green Sword,’ the country has declared that the recyclables we have been sending them are too contaminated and dirty.

The ban targets specific plastics

and recyclable waste paper. For recycling are finally adding up. years, China has used the import Here’s what you can do to ease of recyclable materials to fuel an the impact. economic boom, but as a byproduct Don’t stop recycling of opening their doors to recyclable waste streams, they have also taken Though things may be changing on our garbage. in the world market, recycling well and often is still important. Keep it According to the Institute of in the forefront of your daily routine.

Scrap Recycling Industries, the U.S. exports about one-third of its recycling, nearly half of which goes to China. From the peanut butter jar you didn’t wash clean, to that odd plastic container you assumed was recyclable, poor practices in

Recycling still reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills, prevents pollution by reducing the need to collect new raw materials, conserves natural resources, and saves energy.

Common materials such as plastic, metal, paper, glass and cardboard continue to be accepted for recycling in Skagit County.

Reduce single-use, convenience packaging

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Plastic is everywhere and it’s causing harm. The most common single-use plastics include grocery bags, straws and to-go beverage cups and lids.

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Make it a goal to carry reusable grocery bags. If you find that you leave them in the car once you arrive at the store, place a sticky note on your dashboard: “Did you remember your grocery bag?”

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Attach yourself at the hip to a washable coffee mug and water bottle. Not only will you avoid single-use cups, it’s less likely you’ll be offered plastic straws.

For more ways to reduce single-use plastic, visit the Plastic

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HOMEstyle & Garden 2018

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Prevention Coalition’s website at plasticpollutioncoalition.org.

Keep it clean Take care to ensure your recyclables go into the collection container rinsed clean. The old rules of rinsing your jars and cans and peeling off the labels still apply.

How clean? Ask yourself this: If you were to reuse the container, could you eat from it? If not, rinse again.

If you are concerned about wasting water, it’s fine to use dirty dishwater to do all of your rinsing. If about what can and cannot be you need to use fresh water to rinse, recycled aren’t accurate. conserve energy by always turning This is especially true for the faucet to cold. household plastics. Don’t know Rinsing your recyclables helps what can be recycled in your area? to keep food and liquid out of Check with your city or county solid the recycling system, reducing waste division for the best, up-tocontamination and increasing the date guidelines. items’ market value.

To peel labels easily from jars and cans, soak them for 15 minutes or more. Ideally, all paper and plastic labels should be removed before adding containers to the recycling bin.

As a general rule, plastics in the shapes of bottles, cups, tubs, and jugs with the recycling symbol number “1” and number “2” can always be recycled. Anything else is not accepted and should not be added to the system.

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Keep plastic bags out of the recycling and remove lids from bottles. Since lids are often made of a different kind of nonrecyclable plastic than the containers they top, they must be thrown away.

Don’t be an assuming recycler When in doubt, throw it out.

All recycling companies offer information about what is collected or denied within their recycling collection system.

So many of us have the best interest of the planet in mind when we throw things into the recycling bin, but too often our assumptions

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SPRING HOME & GARDEN | FLEX YOUR GREEN THUMB

Bugs in my yard — Why that’s a good thing

By Brenda Cunningham For the Skagit Valley Herald

A

time of gathering

If you have ever gathered wild foods, like rose hips or nettles, you may have been surprised at how many insects you accidentally collected at the same time.

But all of them are very important to the birds using those plants.

Native plants are better for birds

Native plants are experiencing a heyday in popularity for a variety Many of the bugs, like the tiny of reasons. They are adapted to spiders, are harmless to the plant, our soils and climate, making them just using it as a platform for their attractive to those wanting to help own foraging. Others, like aphids the environment and spend less time and caterpillars, may damage leaves. on fertilizing and watering.

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These hangers-on suddenly

appear on the counter-top or in the kitchen sink as you clean your harvest. Their great abundance on native fruits and leaves illustrates how these plants are interconnected with the animal world.

Native plants have co-evolved with our native pollinators, making them appealing to gardeners and farmers who need crops pollinated.

Native plants are also important to the lesser known bugs out there, which in turn, are the mainstay for our birds.

Newly published research (Biological Conservation, September 2017) affirms what we have suspected — native plants harbor

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HOMEstyle & Garden 2018

goskagit.com

more insects important to bird life than do non-native plants. This is not something you have to travel to a park to observe.

You can witness it out your back door. Researchers compared caterpillar abundance on native and non-native plants, finding more caterpillars on the native species.

They also tracked the behavior of chickadees and documented preferences for foraging and nesting on native plants.

Many of us think our backyard songbirds depend on the seeds we put out for them. But these same birds rely heavily on insects for the your yard. And what a treat that it calories needed to get through the cold months and to raise their young comes with beautiful songs. in the spring.

Are some native plants Even Anna’s Hummingbird, remarkable for expanding its winter range to include the Pacific Northwest, will feed on insects throughout the winter. If you enjoy seeing songbirds in your yard the best thing you can do is plant native species.

better than others?

consider when choosing native plant species are the conditions you have in your yard. Just as with cultivated species, native plants must be

The most important factors to

continued on page 16

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Chickadees, bushtits, hummingbirds and all sorts of warblers will glean insects from the most inaccessible places high in your trees, doing a more thorough job than any ground-based chemical application.

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By forgoing the use of pesticides and tolerating a little damage on some plants, you are attracting nature’s own pest control service to

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BUGS from page 15

chosen with care to match culture requirements with site conditions.

Many native species tolerate our wet winters and dry summers, yet consideration must still be taken when siting the plants relative to sun, shade, drainage and available space.

Choose both evergreen and deciduous species for your yard.

Adding diversity will ensure that spiders and insects will be available for the birds much of the year.

which species host caterpillars and which birds they are likely to attract.

Refine your selection further by visiting the landscaping section of the Washington Native Plant Society website (wnps.org) for information about the culture requirements for each plant species. Be sure to consider the space you have available.

Once you have a plant species wish list, search your local nurseries, native plant society chapters and conservation district sales. The growing popularity of native plants has resulted in more being available in nurseries. Please support this trend by shopping in the local nurseries.

The Audubon Society has launched an initiative to encourage people to plant native species for the benefit of birds. A visit to the website www.audubon.org/nativeWhen you have your native plants will lead you to a list of plants plants established, the table is set. appropriate for your area.

Sit back, listen and watch the birds Information about plants includes enjoy the feast.

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SPRING HOME & GARDEN | INDOORS

Spring Cleaning Checklist O

nce spring weather hits, most people get the itch to dust out the corners and coffers for a truly fresh start to the New Year.

But many homeowners focus their attention on the inside of their houses and ignore important maintenance on the outside. Consider the following updates to give your home a spring overhaul.

Windows and Doors Windows and doors are the most common places for leaks, which can allow hot summer air in and cooled air out. As you clean, look for cracks in the caulking and weather stripping. If you notice any fogging up of glass in windows or doors over the winter, this could be a sign that the weather seal has been compromised.

Air Conditioner Maintenance Just as you (hopefully) serviced your furnace in the fall, it is important to give your air conditioner the once over before you need it.

This includes replacing

the filter and checking hose connections.

Performing this chore in the spring means you won’t have any surprises come summer.

Exterior Walls, Roof and Attic Do a perimeter sweep of the exterior of your home once all the snow melts away and you’re sure the last frost has come and gone. Look for damaged areas, especially near the gutters and foundation. Any openings

are an invitation for water and small critters such as carpenter ants and termites.

Additionally, it is important to check over your roof — especially after a rough or particularly wet winter.

Make plans to have any cracked or missing shingles replaced by a roofer.

The Garage This is one “room” that gets ignored when it comes to our

goskagit.com HOMEstyle & Garden 2018

spring-induced zest for organization. In fact, 86 percent of Americans can’t even fit their cars in their garage for all the stuff they store in it. It is time to reclaim the garage.

Gather up recycling and take it to your local center.

Organize the items you’ve been saving for the garage sale you still haven’t hosted and donate them.

Grab a broom and give the garage floor a good sweep.

No matter what level of clutter your garage houses, odds are it could use some TLC. 17

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