Homes & Design - Fall Home Improvement for 2018

HOME IMPROVEMENT October 2018

Homes & Design

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HOMES & DESIGN • FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT

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Hygge is more than just a Scandinavian way of life. Many Americans are embracing living in this manner while designing their spaces to reflect their personal approach to hygge.

STOCK PHOTO Fall Home Improvement

Bring hygge into your home

Homes & Design

Declutter, not de-style

“There’s nothing more satisfying than coming home to a streamlined space,” says Santos. “To achieve this, it’s important to periodically rid your home of extraneous items and embrace the comfy ones, like a warm blanket and scented candles.”

When it comes to Hygge, don’t think that

See HYGGE, Page 4

For advertising opportunities, call (262) 725-7701, ext.

134, or email vicki@southernlakesnewspapers.com EDITOR IN CHIEF: Edward Nadolski SPECIAL SECTIONS: Tracy Ouellette CREATIVE/PRODUCTION DIRECTOR: Heidi Schulz ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: Vicki Vanderwerff EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: Sharon Soch

Page 3

Fall Home Improvement

into his personal home as well as those of his clients. Here are his three tips to help you master this cozy trend in your favorite spaces, too.

HOMES & DESIGN • FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT

Homes & Design Fall Home Improvement October 2018 Published by Southern Lakes Newspapers LLC 1102 Ann St. Delavan, WI 53115 262-728-3411

while wrapped in your favorite blanket on the couch, inviting friends over for a quaint dinner or reading a good book on an incredibly comfortable leather chair while candles flicker, we’ll help you hygge your home.

“I live in one of the world’s most bustling cities, which makes winding down even more essential in my day to day,” says Noa Santos, who is based in New York City. “For those chaotic nights when I really want to Zen out, I practice the Danish art of Hygge - and it’s not just as a passing trend full of all roaring fires and chunky sweaters. Hygge is a way of life and accessible to all!”

Santos used his expertise to integrate Hygge

OCT. 2018

L

for comfort and contentment

ast year, the Scandinavian concept of hygge took the interior design stage by storm with people around the world flocking to buy cozy blankets and sheepskin throws.

This year, Noa Santos, interior co-founder of interior design company Homepolish says that hygge has experienced a rebirth and visually has become the elevated, bolder enhancement of last year’s concept. It’s about purposeful design choices that stand out and speak for themselves, and not shying away from bold design decisions to make home an oasis of coziness.

So whether enjoying a warm cup of tea

• Hygge

(Continued from page 3)

decluttering means de-styling – in fact, where better to make a bold statement than with a piece you both need and want.

“I recommend LG’s suite of Matte Black Stainless Steel kitchen appliances to really lend your space a sleek, minimalist vibe that still capitalizes on coziness,” says Santos.

“What I love about them is that they’re statement pieces but are also versatile because they complement just about any color or kitchen style – whether it’s traditional or contemporary.”

Winter’s bite can be severe. Homeowners can protect themselves and their properties when the freeze sets in.

Bring outdoors in

Part of hygge is being aligned with Mother Nature. Fortunately, adding natural elements to a home’s interior enhances any design aesthetic. From French country and traditional to contemporary and industrial, adding organic materials to your design will instantly add feelings of hygge.

“Artfully arranged flowers and perfectly placed plants help cement your space as an indoor Eden,” says Santos. “The positive psychological benefits aren’t too shabby either.

Organic materials like wood and leather work like a charm as well.”

A simple way to start is by strategically adding live plants throughout your space. Whether it’s colorful florals or the more muted tones of succulents, this provides a warm, inviting space no matter the time of year.

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HOMES & DESIGN • FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT

OCT. 2018

Gather

Hygge isn’t just how you design your space, it’s how you use it.

Enjoying your surroundings with loved ones is sure to feed the soul and heighten your hygge. It could be a cozy night in for two or a bountiful feast for a crew – togetherness is at the heart of hygge and allows you to show off your home design.

“Whether it’s just your significant other or a handful of close friends, sharing a meal around the table – especially a hand-crafted one – is a great way to nail hygge,” says Santos.

“I recommend keeping your fridge stocked with food for these dinners.

You never know when you may need to plan an emergency meal with your favorite warm comfort foods.”

To learn about how LG Matte Black Appliances can help you master Hygge and make a bold statement, visit LG.com or www.lgmatteblack. com.

(BPT)

STOCK PHOTO Fall Home Improvement

Protect your home (and more) from winter’s freeze

Freezing temperatures may be good for ice skating or building snowmen, but sub-freezing temperatures can be dangerous for the average person and his or her home.

Cold weather often leaves people scurrying to do whatever is necessary to safeguard themselves from the big chill. But it’s important homeowners also protect their homes in cold weather.

Plumbing

Plumbing and pipes may be vulnerable to cold weather. Frozen pipes may burst and cause substantial damage to a home, potentially causing flooding and structural damage.

Homeowners should disconnect and drain garden hoses before winter arrives. Water to outdoor hose bibs should be turned off, though the valves on these outdoor faucets should be left open to drain. Also, outdoor faucets can be covered with insulating foam covers.

The Red Cross says pipes that freeze most frequently include pipes in unheated areas, such as basements, attics, garages, and crawl spaces.

Close vents to the outside in areas like attics and basements to limit the amount of cold air that gets indoors. Think about insulating unheated areas, as well as using pipe sleeves, heat tape or wraps on exposed pipes.

By opening kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors, homeowners can allow warm air from a home to reach pipes under the sink. During extreme freezes, keep cold water dripping from a sink to prevent pipes from freezing.

Service HVAC systems

It’s important to ensure that heating systems are

working properly prior to the cold-weather season.

It may only take hours for the interior of a home to reach dangerously low temperatures without adequate heat.

Homeowners should schedule annual checkups of furnaces and hot water heaters.

Inspect the heat exchanger for cracks, install a clean air filter and make sure all thermostats are working properly.

Have fuel ready

Homeowners who heat their homes with oil, wood or coal should make sure they have plenty of fuel on hand in advance of winter. Shortages can occur, and it may take some time for new fuel to arrive in the midst of a cold snap.

As a precaution, homeowners can rely on portable space heaters to fill in the heating gaps during freezing temperatures. Exercise extreme caution with these devices, turning them off when leaving the room and remembering to avoid overloading outlets.

Protect outside

Drain birdbaths, clean out downspouts and remove water from other items where water can freeze and cause damage. Inspect roofing prior to the snowy season, but stay off roofs during freezing weather.

Remove snow shovels and other winter gear from storage and make sure the items are easily accessible during snowstorms.

Winter’s bite can be severe. Homeowners can protect themselves and their properties when the freeze sets in.

(METRO CREATIVE)

Decorating with black and white is a classic choice that many homeowners are returning to.

STOCK PHOTO Fall Home Improvement

Black and white:

A reemerging home design trend Shower your bathroom with style

Black and white can give your bathroom a clean, crisp look. Infuse black accents through a matte black faucet and coordinating accessories, like those from Moen’s Genta bathroom suite, or through black and white floor tiles in a geometric print. Towels also provide an Turn up the heat in your kitchen opportunity to add texture and visual interest, Also known as entertaining central, your whether it’s a modern floral or traditional kitchen is the perfect location for some wow houndstooth. factor. The boldness of black and white will For a seriously eye-catching shower, seriously impress your guests. install black and white striped tile. Keep the “A lot of homeowners want the clean bathroom’s walls white, so the tiles really pop, kitchen look, so they’re afraid to bring in a expanding the stripes to the ceiling to emphasize dark, dramatic color,” says DeBoe Harper. “In the height of your bathroom walls and make it reality, incorporating black cabinets or fixtures feel bigger – the thinner the stripes, the bigger into an all-white kitchen can give it an upscale, the statement. current feel that’s still streamlined – and “Integrating black and white makes your doesn’t require cluttering your countertops with space feel sophisticated, yet playful and on accent pieces.” trend,” adds DeBoe Harper. “Use these tips to Consider combining a matte black faucet, achieve the ideal balance in your home.”

(STATEPOINT) such as Moen’s Sleek kitchen faucet, with a

Page 5

They say the darker the wall color, the smaller the space feels – but that’s not entirely true when black walls are paired with the right light accents.

In the right instances, black and white go together like yin and yang, transforming living rooms into picture-perfect spaces.

“You can either go heavy on the black, with black painted walls or wallpaper, or make it the accent color and opt for white walls,” says Danielle DeBoe Harper, interior designer and senior creative content manager at Moen, a leading manufacturer of kitchen and bath fixtures. “In a white-heavy room, include touches like artwork in black frames, a black fireplace or a black painted floor and ceiling moldings. In a black-heavy area, use white trim

white backsplash and counters, or mixing black bentwood café chairs around a modern white tulip table for a more eclectic approach.

HOMES & DESIGN • SPRING HOME IMPROVEMENT

Create a luxurious living room

and rugs to offset dark walls for a contemporary look, or organic wood accents to create a unique boho feel.”

In modern homes, DeBoe Harper recommends incorporating a pair of bold buffalo check chairs or large scale black and white photos. For a more traditional approach, she suggests using silk black and white striped curtains, or painting the ceiling in a black and white herringbone design.

OCT. 2018

Black and white always has been a classic color pairing, and this neutral palette has resurged as one of today’s hottest design trends.

Whether your look is modern or traditional, knowing how to properly use black and white can provide balance and boldness to a home.

Here are some tips to help integrate this trend into your space.

Get the yard ready for winter Fall maintenance tips for a lush green lawn next spring

The days are getting shorter and the nights are cooling off. The kids are back in school. Yes, fall is in the air, and that means it’s time to start thinking about prepping your lawn for winter.

“Many homeowners see spring as the most critical season for lawn care,” says Bryan Ostlund, executive director of Grass Seed USA, a coalition of American grass seed farmers and turf specialists, “but in reality, at least in the transition and cool zones of the U.S., fall maintenance can have just as much impact – if not more – on the year-round health and appearance of your lawn. Once temperatures are consistently below 60 degrees, your lawn will start storing up nutrients in preparation for winter. That’s when you should start your fall lawn care regimen.”

Following are three proactive measures you can take in the fall to ensure lush green grass come spring.

Reseed thin or bare areas

Aerify

Aerifying your lawn combats soil compaction and thatch buildup and enables water, nutrients and oxygen to reach the grass’s roots more easily. You can hire a professional to aerify your turf for you, or you can rent a core aerator that uses hollow tines to pull up small plugs of soil at regular intervals throughout the lawn. If you’re reseeding, aerify right before you apply the new seed.

Apply fertilizer Cool-season grass should be fertilized in the fall – even if your lawn looks perfectly healthy and has no bare patches – to promote good root development, enhance the storage of energy reserves and extend color retention. Most of the benefits of fertilization will be seen the next spring and summer, with earlier green-up, improved turf density, greater tolerance to spring diseases and reduced weeds.

Note that new grass and established lawns need nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in different proportions. So if you’re reseeding, apply a starter fertilizer at the time of planting and then follow up with a second application, this time using standard fertilizer, four to eight weeks after germination.

The UW-Extension office can help you determine which fertilizers are best for your type of grass and local conditions.

(BPT)

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HOMES & DESIGN • FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT

OCT. 2018

At the end of a long, hot summer with lots of outdoor activity, it’s not unusual for lawns to show signs of wear. By reseeding after the summer’s heat subsides and before the first

winter freeze, you can repair the damage and give your turf an eight- to nine-month jump start on root growth.

The longer and stronger the grass’s roots are, the less water your lawn will require during drier months and the more resistant it will be to disease and weeds. A thick lawn also helps reduce erosion, which can be particularly important in regions that experience rainy winter weather.

Before you reseed, mow your lawn and remove the clippings, and then prepare the soil by raking with a straight rake. This will remove dead organic matter and loosen up the top half-inch of soil to improve contact with the seed. Then apply a high-quality seed that is appropriate for your local climate conditions and is resistant to currently prevalent pests.

Ask the UW-Extension office (www.uwex.edu) for recommendations of blends that have tested well in your area. You’ll want to use fresh seed, so check the label to confirm that the seed was tested within the past 12 months. After planting, water the reseeded area lightly and regularly to keep it damp until the new grass is established.

Although new warm-season lawns are best planted in the late spring or early summer, if you live in the warm zone you might consider overseeding your warm-season turf with coolseason grass seed in the fall. The cool-season grass will thrive until the warm-season grass turns green again in the spring, ensuring yearround color.

Investing a bit of time and effort in fall maintenance will pay off next year, with greener grass earlier in the spring and a thicker, healthier lawn that is ready to stand up to the rigors of summer wear and tear.

STOCK PHOTO Fall Home Improvement

A guide to safely removing fallen leaves Raking leaves is a chore many people immediately associate with autumn. Even though raking seems like a simple activity, it’s still possible to be injured while removing leaves from the yard.

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center advises that pain from outdoor leaf chores can range from strained back muscles to twisted knees. Blisters on the hands and sunburn are other potential side effects. Many people do not realize that raking is a thorough cardiovascular workout. Individuals at risk for cardiovascular disease or those who have recovered from surgery may not be well enough to rake leaves.

Here’s how to make autumn leaf removal more of a breeze when the job is done safely: • Pay attention when using a leaf blower. Be cautious not to point an operational blower in the direction of people or pets, as debris can be blown about and cause injury.

• Stretch out before raking leaves. Warm up muscles beforehand so they are less likely to cramp. UPMC experts suggest taking a short walk prior to raking to stimulate circulation.

• Use proper raking form. Much like snow shoveling, one should emphasize proper posture when raking, with legs slightly bent and weight distributed evenly.

Hold the rake handle close to the body and keep one hand near the top of the rake for better leverage.

• Use the proper gear. A leaf rake fans out like a triangle and comes in various widths. Choose a lightweight material that can be easily maneuvered. A metal rake is for stones and dirt and shouldn’t be used for leaves. To get between bushes, a smaller version of a leaf rake, called a shrub rake, should be used.

• Wear protective gear. When raking or leaf blowing, protect your eyes against debris. You also may want to use a mask to prevent inhalation of leaf mold and other particulates. Gloves can protect hands from blisters.

• Follow manufacturers’ directions.

Read the instructions for powered leaf blowers, and never modify the device in an unauthorized way.

• Use a tarp and lift wisely. Rake leaves onto a tarp that can be dragged to a garbage pail or to the curb for municipal pick up. For those who must lift bags of leaves, do so by bending at the knees, not from the waist.

• Wear sunscreen. Protect skin from the sun. Even though temperatures are cooler in the fall, this does not mean the sun’s rays are any less harmful. Also, take breaks to rehydrate frequently.

• Use a secure ladder. When removing leaves from gutters, be sure the ladder is sturdy and secure. Consider having a friend serve as a spotter, holding on to the ladder to offer greater security. Do not overextend to stretch for leaves.

(METRO CREATIVE)

7 USES FOR FALLEN LEAVES Create a pile of leaves that will break down and form a crumbly, compost-like material called leaf mold. Even though leaf mold may sound like a blight, it’s actually a good amendment to garden soil, improving its structure and ability to hold water. Leaf mold also attracts beneficial organisms that are vital in healthy soil.

3.

Brown leaves can be added to green materials in compost piles to improve the health of the compost being formed. According to the healthy living resource Care2, the ideal ratio is 75 percent brown to 25 percent green materials in compost. Turn compost piles regularly to aerate them.

4.

Use shredded leaves as a lawn supplement.

Pass a lawn mower over leaves left on the lawn to break them down into pieces too small to rake. This will help keep the lawn healthy throughout the winter without blocking out needed sunlight.

6.

Bag dried leaves and pack them tightly together in cold areas of the home, such as basements or garages. They can act as added insulation. Bags of leaves also can be placed around planting containers to protect them from frost.

7.

Gather a few of the best-looking leaves and preserve them. Use an iron on a low setting and press leaves between two pieces of waxed paper until the waxed paper seals together. Or use clear contact paper to achieve the same effect.

(METRO CREATIVE)

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Store dried, mulched leaves in a dry spot so they can be used in the spring as a weed barrier for spring plantings. They will keep weeds at bay and help retain soil moisture to ensure small sprouts have the resources to grow.

5.

HOMES & DESIGN • FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT

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Spread leaves as a protective mulch to cover tender perennials or root crops/bulbs in the ground. The leaves will form a natural insulating cover that keeps the soil and the plants within a bit warmer over winter.

2.

OCT. 2018

By the time autumn hits full swing, many trees will have shed their leaves for the season, and the last vestiges of red, yellow and orange magic will have faded to brown.

Raking, blowing and collecting leaves becomes the primary chores of lawn and yard maintenance, and presents most homeowners with large piles of gathered leaves to tend to.

It is impossible to count just how many leaves fall to the ground each year, or just how many pounds of leaves get collected curbside, but the numbers are substantial. Cleaning up leaves is considerable work, but not all of those leaves need to be carted away. In fact, there are several different uses of leaves that can be beneficial.

HOMES & DESIGN • FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT

OCT. 2018

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up to

Mum’s the word

Autumn is a prime time to tend lawns and gardens and perennials start to fall back, mark the spots where perennials are located so they can be easily identified later on. This way, when planning spots for spring bulbs or other spring layouts for next year, perennials won’t be overlooked or covered over.

• Prune shrubs. Look at shrubs and trees and cut out dead or diseased wood.

• Clean up borders. Weed and tidy up borders and lawn edging.

• Install pavers or rock wall.

Embrace the cooler temperatures to work on labor-intensive projects, such as putting in a garden bed, retaining wall or walkway.

• Remove spent summer veggies. Take out vegetable garden plants that have already bloomed and borne fruit. Tidy up vegetable gardens and start to sow cooler weather plants, such as onions, garlic, beans, and sweet peas.

• Rake and compost. Rake the leaves and gather grass clippings to

STOCK PHOTO Fall Home Improvement

Mums are perennials; when properly planted and cared for, they can bloom every autumn. Fall is the pefect time to plant mums.

add to the compost pile.

• Plant spring bulbs. Get tulips and other spring bulbs ready for planting so they’ll burst with color next year.

• Dig up herbs. Relocate herbs like parsley or basil to indoor gardens. Otherwise, strip all leaves and freeze for storage during winter.

• Consider mums.

Chrysanthemum plants are perennials. While they look beautiful in pots, if planted, maintained and winterized, they can bloom every fall.

• Fertilize the lawn. Fertilizing in autumn helps ensure grass will stay healthy throughout the winter.

• Add mulch and compost to the garden. Replenish spent soil with mulch and compost so garden beds will be revitalized for spring planting.

• Prune hedges. Tidy up hedges, as they won’t be growing much more this year.

• Clean and store equipment.

Clean, sharpen and oil all equipment, storing lawn and garden tools properly so they are ready for spring and not lying out all winter.

Autumn may not seem like gardening season, but there are plenty of lawn and garden tasks to tend to during this time of year.

(METRO CREATIVE)

Did you know that you can create a safe haven for wild song birds in your own backyard? By taking a few simple actions, you can provide birds with vital resources they need to thrive, as well as guard them from common flying hazards.

Protect them

adorable) pets are monitored while outside to prevent attacks.

Feed them

Birds in transit expend a lot of energy, but you can ease their hunt for food. Avoid the temptation to feed birds yesterday’s bread. Stale breads that have developed mold could be potentially harmful to birds. Instead, populate your garden with native flowering species and supply a bird feeder stocked with a variety of seeds. Strategic placement of a bird feeder is key in preventing bird strikes. Place your feeder either closer than three feet or farther (STATEPOINT) than 30 feet from windows.

Page 9

Before inviting birds to your yard and garden with food and habitat, first take measures to protect them.

Unfortunately, millions of birds die annually by striking glass, making the windows and glass doors of your home a potential safety hazard.

Help reduce the risk of bird strikes by applying

special decals that reflect ultraviolet sunlight from your home’s windows, particularly those highly reflective of open sky. Virtually invisible to humans, they keep birds safe without affecting your view.

The ones offered by WindowAlert, for example, give the appearance of slightly frosted translucent glass, but glow like a stoplight for birds. For fuller protection, supplement the decals with WindowAlert UV Liquid, making marblesized dots to create a “visual barrier” across glass surfaces. To learn more, visit WindowAlert.com.

You can limit other hazards to birds by ensuring cats, dogs and other predatory (but otherwise

HOMES & DESIGN • FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT

Attract beautiful songbirds to your backyard

OCT. 2018

Autumn is gardening season.

That statement may not seem right to those who think of the spring as the peak time to care for lawns and gardens. However, autumn is an ideal time to get into the garden and ensure that flowers, trees and garden beds will over-winter successfully.

A number of things make autumn a prime gardening season.

The cooler days of fall enable gardeners to spend ample time outdoors without the threat of blazing heat. In addition, soil harbors a lot of residual warmth in autumn. Also, the colder temperatures haven’t yet arrived in autumn, nor have the leaves completely fallen, making fall a prime time to assess what’s already in the landscape, what needs pruning back and where to address planting for next year.

Gardening enthusiasts can focus their attention on these areas this fall.

• Pamper perennials. As annuals

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Too hot (or cold)?

Questions to ask when looking for a new HVAC unit

factors, so don’t be afraid to ask questions as your technician reviews your home.

What is the proper SEER rating for your home?

What maintenance will be involved?

HOMES & DESIGN • FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT Page 11

Like all other aspects of your home, adding a new HVAC unit means you’ll be responsible for some maintenance to support its use.

The maintenance required for your new unit should be outlined in the owner’s manual, but you can also ask your HVAC contractor if you have any questions not answered in the guide.

Confirm the warranty details of your new HVAC system and be sure to register the warranty with the manufacturer if necessary. This will ensure your new system is supported for years to come.

Following a regular maintenance schedule, such as keeping the area around your unit clean, is a good rule to follow. The extra effort will keep your system running optimally, and neglecting routine maintenance can void your system’s warranty.

Keep a record of all maintenance performed to reference in case any repairs are needed.

Whether you want to enjoy the last days of this season or prepare for the next, finding the right HVAC system for your home is one decision you shouldn’t delay. Start your search by finding answers to the questions above and you’ll be on your way to the perfect HVAC solution for your property.

(BPT)

OCT. 2018

When it comes to HVAC systems, the SEER rating may be the most important measurement you’re not aware of.

If you subscribe to the belief that your home Ken Ely, director of residential product is your castle, then you naturally expect to be management, Ducted Systems, Johnson Controls comfortable in that castle, right? Whether it’s agrees. “Many homeowners have never heard the middle of winter or the dog days of summer, of a SEER rating associated with their HVAC your home’s HVAC system plays a vital role in supporting this comfort, so if you’re in the market unit,” he says. “However, a unit’s SEER rating demonstrates its energy efficiency and how for a new system, here are three questions you easily the system can control the temperature in should ask before purchasing your new system. your home. A higher SEER rating is good for the Is the unit the right size for your home? environment and your overall energy budget.”

In the world of HVAC units, size matters and SEER is short for Seasonal Energy Efficiency bigger isn’t always better. A unit that is too big will needlessly waste energy in your home while Ratio and the rating is a good indicator of a unit that is too small will burn out trying to keep your unit’s energy efficiency. For example, up. An HVAC system’s power is measured in tons the 19 SEER efficiency of the new two-stage Luxaire Acclimate HVAC unit can reduce your - not a unit of weight in this case but power. system’s energy usage by up to 47 percent when To determine the proper tonnage for your home, your HVAC technician will need to review compared to older 10 SEER units, meaning you’ll start saving energy and utility costs most, if not all, of the rooms in your home – immediately after installation. especially the attic and/or basement. A common All units with SEER ratings of 14 or higher rule of thumb for HVAC systems is that one earn an energy efficiency classification, so look ton is necessary for every 400 square feet in the for the SEER rating when shopping for a new home. However, your needs may vary based on HVAC unit and remember the higher the rating, your home’s location, its insulation and other

the more you’ll save in the long run.

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OCT. 2018 HOMES & DESIGN • FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT Page 12

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Don’t lose the signal NUCLEAR_LILY/STOCK.ADOBE.COM Fall Home Improvement

Don’t just live with the dead zones in your home. By taking a few simple steps, you can enjoy a more satisfying Wi-Fi experience.

So, given today’s basement-to-attic demand for Wi-Fi access, what is the most economical and effective strategy for winning the battle against dead zones in your home? Parker offers five no-cost/low-cost suggestions:

2.

Switch to a less crowded frequency. In living spaces like apartment buildings, too many broadcasting networks can interfere with each other and impact Wi-Fi quality.

Because routers broadcast across two wireless frequency bands, 2.4 and 5 GHz, when one is too crowded it acts like a highway packed with cars. The good news is you can usually switch frequencies within your mobile device settings to use the less crowded channel.

Reboot regularly. Routers asked to complete many requests, such as handing out multiple IP addresses to different devices

Get the latest hardware. If you’re still using that dinosaur router from the early 2000s, it’s probably time for an upgrade.

Outfitting your home with a smarter and more advanced router could be the solution to your Wi-Fi woes, especially if your existing router is a very old model with limited capabilities.

Internet service providers often provide router upgrades by request for no charge.

5.

Consider a distributed mesh Wi-Fi system.

For Wi-Fi that reaches farther, consider a mesh Wi-Fi system, which consists of a main router connected to a modem and a series of satellite Wi-Fi distribution modules placed throughout the house. Those from Milo provide a strong uninterrupted signal to every Wi-Fi device in the home, from attic to basement.

To learn more, visit milowifi.com or call 1-877-426-6456.

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3.

4.

HOMES & DESIGN • FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT

Whether it’s to stream a movie from the bedroom or lock the front door using smart home technology, you’ve likely come to expect Wi-Fi to reach every corner of your house.

The reality is that there are certain locations in many homes where Internet-connected devices and smartphones are unable to receive a steady Wi-Fi signal (or any signal at all) from the router. These sad places are called “dead zones.”

“Dead zones typically include bathrooms, second and third story bedrooms, attics, basements, garages and back patios – and they can drive everyone in the house absolutely crazy,” says Jeff Parker, the “Wi-Fi Guru,” and editor of the Milo Wi-Fi Blog, a source for practical advice, new products, and leadingedge technology dedicated to enhancing the Wi-Fi experience.

Keep your router away from metal. Objects such as mirrors, televisions, appliances or anything large made primarily of metal (i.e. decorative furniture, filing cabinets, even fish tanks!) have the potential to impair your network’s signal strength. If possible, move such items and your router apart.

and handling large downloads, can end up slowing down because of the heavy workload.

You can think of rebooting your router as basically refreshing it and clearing any memory or stalled tasks.

OCT. 2018

5 tips to bring your home’s Wi-Fi ‘dead zones’ to life 1.

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OCT. 2018

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STOCK PHOTO Fall Home Improvement

Autumn yard work should be performed in as eco-friendly a fashion as possible.

Make fall cleanup eco-friendly Certain tasks become necessary once autumn arrives. Whereas spring and summer were spent tending gardens and maintaining a yard prime for entertaining, autumn is about preparing properties to survive the winter. Just as with other jobs around the house and yard, fall clean-up can be done in a manner that is respectful to the environment.

Compost is a friend

Rake leaves sensibly

Check for drafts and leaks

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Page 15

Look at which items in the yard have seen better days and prepare to recycle or reuse them in different ways. Faded plastic planters can be used as impromptu birdbaths in a garden. An old tire can be mulched and turned into soft material to put around a playset. Inquire as to the proper way to recycle plastic lawn chairs that may be broken.

HOMES & DESIGN • FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT

Fall is an ideal time to check windows and doors for cracks where water, air or insects can enter. Seal up holes and cracks, and ensure there are no drafty areas. Drafts can cause home heating and cooling systems to work harder, expending more energy than necessary.

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OCT. 2018

Power blowers and mulchers make fast work of leaves, but at the expense of the environment.

Gas-powered devices discharge fuel exhaust into the air, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. Instead, reap the benefits of peace and quiet as well as exercise from manual raking.

While raking, do not feel the need to remove every leaf. A certain amount of organic matter can be beneficial to the soil and even insulate the lawn somewhat. A leftover leaf here or there also may provide protection for insects and small animals.

Many native bees spend the winter in tunnels in the ground, cracks in mortar, holes in dead wood, or within hollow stems, and they need lawn and garden litter to survive.

Spread a thin layer of compost on the lawn and in garden beds.

Compost prevents weed growth, insulates and protects the soil and provides nutrients that will be needed once the spring busy season begins.

By using compost, homeowners can reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers and weed killers.

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HOMES & DESIGN • FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT

OCT. 2018