At Home Living 102817

Saturday, October 28, 2017 An advertising feature of The Topeka Capital-Journal

Home loans

Improve your credit Local experts give advice on home-buying process page 6 n Pruning storm-damaged trees, page 2 n Flea market bargain hunting, page 3 n Benefits of furnace inspection, page 8

2 | Saturday, October 28, 2017 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com

Use caution when pruning storm-damaged trees In Kansas, the weather has a mind of its own. From snow in May to tornadoes in December, anything is possible. Even in the later fall months, damaging thunderstorms pop up and the possibility for ice storms soon follows.

Often, storms only remove leaves and small branches, but in some cases, tree removal may be necessary. The following guidelines help determine what storm damage is tolerable, how to remove the battered portions and when tree removal is the best action to take.

— Be safe. Check for downed power lines or hanging branch‑ es. Don’t venture under the tree until it’s safe. If large limbs are hanging precariously, a certified arborist has the tools, training and knowledge to do the work safely.

Also, downed limbs and trees may be under compression.

Cutting through a limb under compression can release that energy causing the limb to whip and possibly injure anyone near.

Again, consider an arborist if safety is a concern.

— Remove debris so you don’t trip over it. If there is still ice, it’s best to wait until all has

Ariel Whitely-NOLL

arielw@ksu.edu

melted before beginning work.

— Decide whether it’s feasible to save the tree. If the bark has been split so the cambium is ex‑ posed or the main trunk is split, the tree probably won’t survive and should be removed. If there are so many broken limbs that the tree’s form is destroyed, replacement is the best option.

Topping, where all the main branches are cut and there are only stubs left, isn’t a recom‑ mended pruning procedure.

Though new branches normally will arise from the stubs, they aren’t as firmly attached as the original branches and are more likely to break in subsequent storms.

Also, the tree must use a lot of energy to develop new branches, leaving less to fight off diseases and insect attacks. Often, the

METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

If a storm-damaged tree’s bark has been split so the cambium is exposed or the main trunk split, the tree probably won’t survive. topped tree’s life is shortened.

— Prune broken branches to the next larger branch or the trunk. If cutting back to the trunk, don’t cut flush with the trunk but rather at the collar area between the branch and trunk. Cutting flush with the trunk leaves a much larger wound than cutting at the collar and takes longer to heal.

Middle‑aged or younger vigorous trees can have up to one‑third of the crown removed

and still make a surprisingly swift comeback.

— Take large limbs off in stages. If you try to take off a large limb in one cut, it often will break before the cut is finished and strip bark from the tree. Instead, first make a cut about 15 inches from the trunk.

Start from the bottom and cut one‑third of the way up through the limb. Make the second cut from the top down, but start 2 inches further away from the

trunk than the first. The branch will break away as you make the second cut. The third cut, made at the collar area, removes the stub that’s left.

— Don’t apply any products over any cut areas. Trees will heal on their own, although the process takes years, and can leave them susceptible to diseases and insects. Using a sealant, even those made for trees, increases the amount of time until the tree heals.

— If an arborist is needed, consider using an arborist certi‑ fied by the Kansas Arborists As‑ sociation (kansasarborist.com/) or the International Association of Arborists (isa-arbor.com/).

If you have trees of great value, consider pruning properly to try and avoid storm breakage to begin with. A good arborist can help you create a sturdy tree structure. Preventing damage is easier than trying to fix damage after it’s occurred. The Arbor Day Foundation (arborday.org) maintains an excellent website that contains detailed informa‑ tion on proper pruning and tree care.

Ariel Whitely-Noll is the horticulture agent for Shawnee County Research and Extension.

homes.cjonline.com | The Topeka Capital-Journal | Saturday, October 28, 2017 | 3

Designers give tips for flea market shopping

By Melissa Rayworth

The Associated Press

Arriving at a sprawling flea market on a crisp Saturday morning can be exciting.

So many potential treasures might be hidden among the dusty piles of cast-off, secondhand goods.

Yet, often it’s overwhelming, even for experts. With acres of furniture, art, accessories and more stretching out in front of you, where do you begin?

With a list, suggests New York interior designer Jenny Dina Kirschner, who rarely goes hunting for vintage items without one.

On a recent flea market visit, “we made a list of things we still needed. Accent tables, some specific chairs,” Kirschner says. You won’t always find what you seek, and you may find a few treasures you’d never imagined wanting.

But having the list helps “avoid

MARY COSTA/CAITLIN MURRAY

A bedroom designed by Caitlin Murray features a vintage abstract portrait. Murray hunts for portraits at flea markets. that insane feeling of arriving and, ‘Oh my God, what do I look for first?’,” she says.

So what do designers like to look for first at a flea market?

For Los Angeles interior designer Jessica McClendon, founder of the design firm Glamour Nest, that depends

on where she is.

“When I shop on trips, I like to focus on items that are unique to the location. I found a Bavarian deer head carved out of wood when I was in Munich that is so interesting and unique to the Black Forest that I simply had to have it,” she

says. “In Ireland, I zeroed in on textiles and antique bibles or prayer books.”

When shopping for vintage items closer to home, McClendon is always on the lookout for chairs.

“I have a full-fledged vintage chair fetish,” she says. “I find antique and vintage chairs so much more interesting and well-made than options found at retailers today. All they need is a little TLC.” Kirschner agrees: She hunts for chairs that have an eyecatching shape but may be covered in worn or ugly fabric. “As a designer, I know I can revive that chair” by refinishing the wood and updating the upholstery, she says.

She’s open to just about any style. The key, she says, is making sure these secondhand chairs are striking and unusual.

MARKET continues on 9

4 | Saturday, October 28, 2017 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com

Exploring basic toilet bowl shapes

By Ed Del Grande Tribune News Service

Because of the longer shape, elongated toilet bowls are popular. The bowls are egg-shaped and give you a couple extra inches in length for comfort and a larger target area.

Kohler

Q: Dear Ed: I’m looking into getting a new toilet and have noticed that you can get them in long-bowl or shortbowl shapes.

I want the longer bowl size for comfort, but my question is, when or why would you get a shorter bowl toilet?

— Al, Alabama You actually have a few basic bowl shapes to explore.

First, elongated toilets.

These bowls are egg-shaped and give you a couple extra inches in length for comfort and a larger target area.

Because of the longer shape, elongated bowls are popular.

Next, round-front toilets. These

toilets have a circle-shaped bowl, and the slightly shorter bowl is about the only difference between the toilets.

If you have a small bathroom or a door that might hit an elongated bowl, the round front bowl can be your best choice.

Finally, some toilets are compactelongated bowls.

This can offer you the best of both worlds. They fit in a round-front space but have a specially designed elongated bowl — and that’s the long and short of it.

Master contractor/plumber Ed Del Grande is known internationally as the author of the book “Ed Del Grande’s House Call,” the host of TV and Internet shows, and a LEED green associate. Visit eddelgrande.com or write eadelg@cs.com. Always consult local contractors and codes.

homes.cjonline.com | The Topeka Capital-Journal | Saturday, October 28, 2017 | 5

6 | Saturday, October 28, 2017 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com

CREDIT SCORES 101

Wanna raise your FICO? Pay off bills

By Jan Biles

jan.biles@cjonline.com

Editor’s note: This is the second in a four-part monthly series related to the real estate industry.

A credit score can have a big impact on a person’s ability to buy a house. A low score can put a kink in finalizing a loan agreement. Consequently, homebuyers need to know their credit scores and how to raise them before applying for a home loan.

Brad D. Yount, senior vice president and senior manager of consumer and real estate lending at CoreFirst Bank and Trust, Kelly Drummond, loan officer and military mortgage specialist at Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp., and Capitol Federal senior mortgage consultant Tim Murray provide some information about credit scores that may be helpful.

What is a credit score? What does it reflect?

Drummond: It is a numerical representation of your statistical likelihood to repay credit that is extended to you. (It reflects) your payment history, the current balances of your loans, how long you have had your credit, and what type of loans you have — installment, revolving, collections.

Why is a credit score important?

Drummond: A credit score helps determine what type of loan you are eligible for, if you are eligible for a loan and what interest rate you will receive.

Murray: Credit scores are used by lenders, credit card companies, insurance companies and even some employers as a way to assess risk based on histori-

SCORING HIGH

Here are some tips on how to maintain favorable credit scores: — Monitor your credit. Order a copy of your free credit report from each of the three major bureaus annually at www.annualcreditreport.com.

— Pay all bills on time or early. A 30-day late notice on a small credit card can have a negative impact on your scores.

— Don’t co-sign loans. The other person’s late payments will negatively impact your credit scores.

— Don’t close old revolving accounts that are no longer in use. It helps your scores when accounts are open with zero balances.

— Don’t open new accounts unless necessary.

— Report fraud immediately. Contact the credit bureaus, your credit card companies, banks and the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov.

—Don’t extend or open new credit accounts while in the mortgage application process to purchase or refinance a home.

Source: Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation

cal performance. Interest rates, insurance premiums or even lyemployment may be determined based on the risk level associated with the score.

If a person is looking to buy a home, what score do they need?

Yount: Most loan programs have a minimum credit score requirement. It can vary from lender to lender and from one loan program to another. There are lenders and loan programs that will grant credit with a credit score as low as 580.

Generally though, an applicant needs to have a score of 640 or above to qualify for most programs.

Metro Creative Connection

Credit scores can have a big impact when you go to buy a home. A credit score can be raised by paying monthly debts on time and not having too many credit cards.

Some government programs, such as VA (Veterans Administration) and FHA (Federal Housing Administration), will grant credit with a lower score.

How can a person raise their credit score?

Yount: The best way to raise your credit score is to pay your monthly debts on time.

Payments that are over 30 days late are reported to the credit bureau and have a significant negative impact on your score.

Also, using credit wisely will help you raise your score. This would include not taking out too many credit cards and not maxing out the cards you do have.

How can someone check their score? Is there a fee to do so?

Yount: There are a number of ways to check your credit score.

Some are free, and others charge a fee or require you to sign up for a monthly service, which may include a fee, before they will provide you with a “free” score.

Others will provide you with your score monthly in exchange for your permission to market your credit information to lending partners.

You’ll get your credit score every month along with product recommendations from the company.

Murray: The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires each of the nationwide credit reporting companies — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — to provide a person with a free copy of their credit report upon request, once every 12 months. Visit www.annualcreditreport.com to obtain a free copy.

Yount: The (free credit) report (from the three major credit reporting repositories) will not include a credit score, but it will allow you to review all of the history of your past and present credit. It will also allow you to see who has inquired into your credit history.

The site will allow you to dispute any information you feel has been incorrectly reported.

What other things should one know about credit scores?

Drummond: Typically, it takes credit to get credit, so it is very important you actually have a score. Having high credit card balances, recent late payments, collection accounts, tax liens and bankruptcies can be damaging to your credit score.

Murray: Not all credit scores are the same. Not all creditors report to all three bureaus, which can create different credit files.

A mortgage lender is looking specifically for a FICO score from each credit reporting company and will generally use the middle score of the three for each borrower for decision making purposes (often referred to as a Tri-Merge score).

A FICO score is a type of credit score created by the Fair Isaac Corporation. More information can be found at www. myfico.com.

Contact niche editor Jan Biles at (785) 295-1292.

homes.cjonline.com | The Topeka Capital-Journal | Saturday, October 28, 2017 | 7

10 ways scented decor can appeal

By Cathy Hobbs

Tribune News Service

Dean Fosdick/THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

Winter and early spring are the lean months for honeybees as they emerge from their dwindling food supplies to forage. People often overlook trees when planting for pollinators, like these redbud trees.

Winter-blooming plants help bees

By Dean Fosdick The Associated Press

Winter and early spring are lean times for honeybees as they emerge from their hives, where food supplies are dwindling, to forage. Adding clusters of winter-blooming plants around the yard will give them much needed nourishment.

Bees take in carbohydrates from floral nectar and protein from floral pollen. Being aware of bloom times and providing flowers that overlap the seasons are important for beekeepers who want to successfully overwinter their colonies.

Some bees, including many wild varieties, begin searching for food as early as January, when sunny days can push temperatures up to 55 degrees or more.

“In the early spring, bees are going to need food to get their engines started again,” said Andony Melathopoulos, a bee specialist with Oregon State University Extension Service. “You can’t simply start up your gardening routines (for pollinators) again in the spring. Solitary wild bees, honeybees and hummingbirds are just clinging to life.

“The preparation you do now is very important since early spring is a vulnerable time for pollinators.”

Pollinator plants like crocus, primrose and snowdrops will bloom even when snow is on the ground. Trees and shrubs also are effective choices for feeding early emerging honeybees.

“People often overlook trees,” Melathopoulos said. “But when it comes to late winter and early spring, it’s the trees that are important. Willows, maples, filberts and hazelnuts are some of the earliest sources of pollen you’ll find.

They’re easy to establish and grow.”

He also suggests establishing the early blooming plants in clusters to make it easier for foraging honeybees to spot and access them.

“Bees are efficient pollinators,” Melathopoulos said. “They really appreciate patches of flowers. They can go from flower to flower easily.

It’s hard for them to work on cool days, and if they don’t have to fly between clusters, they really appreciate it.”

Many winter-flowering plants grow in the wild, but pollinators generally don’t live near them, he said. That makes cultivating winter bloomers important when you’re planning your gardens.

Property owners also should leave suitable places for native bees to hibernate undisturbed. Let

turf grass grow long over the winter. Avoid pesticides. Reduce lawn size and turn instead to protective shrubs.

Even a small amount of habitat will be enough to sustain bees, Melathopoulos said: “These are tiny creatures.

Well-thoughtout landscapes can provide all the food they need in winter.

Gardeners can really help with that.”

Here are some additional beefriendly plants that can provide a degree of brightness in winter while also nourishing pollinators: — Oregon grape, an evergreen shrub that produces yellow flowers blooming for weeks.

— Heath and heather. “In shades of purple to copper to gold, these low-growing plants make a mat of color throughout the year, including winter,” Melathopoulos said.

— Male willow plants, maples, apple, crabapple, native cherry. “I’d start with these shrubs,” said Mace Vaughan, pollinator program director for The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation in Portland, Ore. “Native plants selected to feed bees are definitely part of the solution” to declining bee populations, Vaughan said.

Homes can have a scent.

Sometimes, the scent is intentional. In other instances, scents can attract or repel. Appealing to the senses can be something easily achieved, especially for those looking to do so in a natural or organic way.

Looking for ways to infuse scents into your home? Here are some tips.

— Consider herbs. From sage to lavender, herbs can provide a fragrant and appealing scent.

— Look for pure natural oils. Pure scents are the most powerful.

— Head to the health food store. Typically health food stores have aisles full of natural, appealing scents.

— Open a window. A home needs to be aired out on a regular basis.

— Add greenery. Plants and trees aren’t only attractive. They also can help to improve the air quality and

oxygen.

— Go organic and natural. Chemically enhanced plug-ins and fresheners seldom emit a natural scent.

— Consider fruits.

Fruits such as fresh lemons and limes can help to infuse fresh, crisp, citrus scents.

— Purchase a diffuser.

These popular items for the home can help spread fragrance.

— Burn a soy candle. Candles that are natural help provide a scent in a nontoxic way.

— Deep clean. Deep cleaning your home with a natural cleaning solution such as baking soda, lemons and borax can help provide a fresh, natural scent.

Cathy Hobbs, based in New York City, is an Emmy Award-winning television host and a nationally known interior design and home staging expert with offices in New York City, Boston and Washington, D.C. Contact her at info@cathyhobbs. com or visit cathyhobbs.com.

DREAMSTIME

Candles that are natural help provide scent in a nontoxic way.

8 | Saturday, October 28, 2017 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com

Inspection can reveal furnace problems Much like a car, a furnace needs tuning to keep it in good working order. And regular maintenance will prevent it from breaking down when you need it most. Poor furnace maintenance is to blame for most of the emergency calls heating, venting and air conditioning experts receive in the winter, they say. So, it’s a good idea to have a professional inspect and service your furnace before the cold weather hits.

So, it’s important that you hire a qualified HVAC professional to perform inspections and services.

Many states have licensing requirements for HVAC contractors.

The National Contractor License Service maintains a list of each state’s professional licensing agency. You also can search for licenses through Angie’s List License Check. Consult with your local licensing agency to see if the company is licensed, bonded and insured. And always ask any company you’re considering hiring to provide references.

When should you hire a furnace inspector?

A good rule of thumb is to have your furnace inspected at least once a year. An annual furnace inspection will prolong the life of the system, reduce your energy bills and even decrease health risks.

For starters, a furnace inspection will reveal problems within your furnace that may cause it to fail or run inefficiently. Identifying and fixing these problems before winter will ensure that your furnace works when the temperatures drop. And you’ll enjoy lower heating bills as a result of your furnace working at a higher efficiency.

A furnace inspection also can reveal carbon monoxide leaks, which are typically hard to detect. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can lead to headaches, dizziness, nausea and even death. The Center for Disease Control estimates that

How can you extend your energy savings?

After an HVAC professional services your furnace, there are a few steps you can take to keep it running smoothly. Most importantly, perhaps, is changing the air filter.

Energy Star, a branch of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, recommends changing your furnace filter at least once every three months. A clogged air filter will restrict air flow, which can reduce efficiency and increase your exposure to environmental contaminants.

HVAC professionals also recommend using a programmable thermostat. Using a programmable thermostat to reduce your home’s temperature 7 or 8 degrees for eight hours a day — whether during the work day or at night — can save you up to 10 percent on your energy bills, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

By Megan Alderton Angie’s List

DREAMSTIME

An annual inspection can prolong the life of your furnace and reduce your energy bills. at least 430 people die in the United States each year as a result of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning. And approximately 50,000 people are taken to emergency rooms to treat exposure.

How much does a furnace inspection cost?

If you have a pro out to do an inspection only, you may have to pay a small trip charge or service fee. Ask whether that amount will be taken off your bill if you

have work done.

If your inspection includes a furnace tune-up, sometimes known as a furnace cleaning, that will typically cost around $60 to $85.

HVAC pros will conduct a number of services in a furnace tune-up, including: — Cleaning the heating system.

— Inspecting controls for safety.

— Checking thermostat set-

tings.

— Inspecting electrical connections and testing voltage.

— Lubricating moving parts.

— Inspecting the condensate drain for obstructions.

— Checking system start-up and shutdown controls.

— Changing the furnace filter.

Who should you hire?

Your HVAC system is among the most complex systems running through your home.

homes.cjonline.com | The Topeka Capital-Journal | Saturday, October 28, 2017 | 9

Market: Vintage electronics may need work

Here’s how to avoid stains in the underarm areas of your clothing.

— Let antiperspirant or deodorant dry completely before putting on your garment.

— Before washing, pre-treat the underarm area of the garment with liquid laundry detergent, so the buildup can be washed away.

— If the stain is old, treat the area with white or apple cider vinegar to help dissolve the perspiration. Wash in hot water at least every third or fourth time to get rid of the buildup.

Continued from 3

If you’re not in the market for furniture, try hunting for art and accessories at estate sales or flea markets, says Jaclyn Joslin, an interior designer and founder of the retail store Coveted Home in Kansas City.

These items “bring life and character into a room that sometimes cannot be achieved with a new item,” Joslin says. She often uses vintage pottery and unique sculptures to add style and color to shelves, mantles and coffee tables.

Interior designer Caitlin Murray, founder and CEO of Black Lacquer Design in Los Angeles, also loves hunting for art.

Her favorite finds are abstract portraits of women, and she’s had “a ton of luck finding interesting pieces at great prices,” she says. “I like to group vintage portraits together as a salon wall, or use just one as a focal point of the room to tie in other colors incorporated throughout the space.”

Smaller art and accessories can also be wonderful flea market finds.

Kirschner recently found a small enamel candy dish with a painted scene on it, and bought it for just a few dollars. She found an insignia on the back, searched online, and discovered that the piece was part of a series created in Europe decades ago by a family of artisans. She’s since hunted for more dishes from the same series, and they’ve become a treasured collection in her home.

If you’re not sure what type of accessories you’re looking for, consider focusing on one material.

“I’m a sucker for anything solid brass,” says Murray. “Some of my all-time favorite scores are a mid-century Mastercraft coffee table for $40, valued at $4,000, and a vintage, sculptural, 2-foot-tall giraffe for $25.”

You also can find eye-catching lamps and light fixtures at flea markets, but they might need rewiring.

Tip of the week: Underarm stains

Source: heloise.com

JENNY DINA KIRSCHNER/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Interior designer Jenny Dina Kirschner discovered one of these vintage Steinbock Enamel candy dishes at a flea market, then searched online for the rest of the series.

“Ask the dealer if it’s been rewired recently. If not, do they know any history or background on it? It’s typically easy to have done, but it’s an added expense,” Kirschner says. If the light hasn’t been rewired recently, use that fact to bargain the price down.

No matter which items make your personal list for a flea-market hunt, these designers recommend buying vintage pieces that delight you. If the price is reasonable, says Kirschner, don’t hesitate: “If you want to think about it for an hour, there’s a chance it won’t be there when you get back.”

Business Wire

10 | Saturday, October 28, 2017 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com

Tour features downtown lofts The Capital-Journal Four downtown lofts will be open for viewing in early November as a fundraiser for Downtown Topeka Inc. “Loft Living … is the Life for Me,” a selfguided walking tour of the lofts, will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 4 in the 800 and 900 blocks of S. Kansas Ave. The tour highlights downtown life through a mixture of creative uses of space, decor, historic architecture and mod-

ern amenities. Residents and owners will talk about their loft property and answer questions from visitors.

The lofts and their owners include: — 820 ½ S. Kansas Ave., Lisa and Tom Stubbs.

— 826 ½ S. Kansas Ave., Amber Beckley Jensen and Brendan Jensen.

— 913 S. Kansas Ave., AIM Strategies LLC. — 931 S. Kansas Ave., Edie and Stephen Smith.

Tickets are available online at Downt o w n To p e k a I n c . c o m

for $20 and at the door the day of the event for $25. The price is for all ages.

The lofts aren’t handicap accessible, and no public restrooms are available in the lofts. Participants will be asked to remove their shoes before entering each loft or utilize provided shoe covers to help minimize the tracking of dirt into the lofts.

No cameras, cell phones or video equipment will be allowed in the lofts.

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Service Directory

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