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Bathroom Retreats

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Around Michiana

Around Michiana

Wallpaper is making a return in bathrooms and other parts of the home, especially accent walls.

Neutral colors, with pops of green and plantlife are becoming popular in bathroom décor. Walk-in showers that protect the aging population from having to climb into and out of showers and tubs are becoming popular.

Greenery, neutral colors, walk-in showers and mismatched tile are the trends in bathroom décor this year.

Bidets and washlets remain popular after the toilet paper scarcity at the beginning of the 2020 pandemic.

Bathroom trends feature

accessibility, mismatching, retreat atmosphere

By Dani Messick House and Home Feature Writer

Bathrooms today are returning to the classic styles while also bringing a retreat-like atmosphere to a now family space.

“I think that clean, fresh, feeling where they’re walking into a vacation [is what people are looking for],” said Joyce Watkins, CAPS, Mid City Supply Co.’s Showroom Business Development Manager. “They want to make their bathrooms like a vacation, a destination spot. Places that even where, if there’s a free-standing bathtub, places that you can sit, so either your spouse or your kids can come in and talk to you. You want that privacy but it seems like they always come in.”

Mixing the old styles with new ones, Watkins explained things like old vintage dressers with new faucet features are trending. “Wallpaper, I’ve seen where that’s coming back whether it’s scenes or just fun funky wallpapers in bathrooms. That vintage look is really popular. You put that vintage look and then a really cool modern faucet with it.” Mixing and matching old and new, but also materials has become popular. “The marble look is so popular right now, but then having two tones of marble, whether it’s the white with the grey and then a backsplash of something that’s bold, something that makes that accent wall into a shower. I’ve been seeing that a lot as well.” Popular combinations include mirrors with wood, and china with metal. “Tile is still the prominent feature in a bathroom,” Watkins said. “Tile is still very big, and then taking where your shower is and mixing up the tile there. You may have, I’ve seen, where you have one pattern as your main floor but then you get into the shower, and then it has a coordinating tile that goes into it so that you can see a different transition.”

For showers, the age of many remodelers is becoming a deciding factor. “I see more rooms, where you’re not having to step into a shower, so it’s all one room that you just step into,” Watkins explained. “Really it’s taking out that threshold. It’s keeping it so the floor, everything, is one level. You have so many Baby Boomers that are getting to the age where they don’t really want to be stepping up anymore, stepping up into a shower, stepping up into a tub. One level walk-in takes them right into it, to where everything is right there.”

In addition to age, convenience is a concern for bathroom remodels today.

“I still feel like the washlets are really big, or the built-in bidet seat on the toilet, with all that hype that we had of the toilet paper shortage and all,” Watkins said. “Washlets are great for cleanliness - it’s got the heated seat, it washes, drys, and deodorizes and we still sell quite a few of those.”

The spa-like bathroom continues to change over time. This time around, greenery is a key piece.

“Bringing in plants or having windows that look out into a garden, making it more outdoor,” Watkins explained.

Still, budgetary requirements will be a determining factor on how homeowners choose to revitalize their own bathrooms.

“It can be anywhere from $1,000 up to $30,000 depending on what they want to spend and what they want to do. The way prices are going everything goes up constantly,” Watkins said. “A coat of paint and some new handles on your cabinets goes a long, long way.” n

Those who don’t have greenery in the bathroom can instead have their windows looking out into a garden or greenspace.

Controlling

Weeds in Your YARD AND GARDEN

By MaryAnn Martin Michiana Master Gardener

Weed definition: Any plant that grows where it is not wanted. Having said that, there are many considerations in how to keep those “not wanted” plants from growing where they are not wanted! Probably, the first decisions to be made are if you want to garden organically or using chemicals or a hybrid of the two; what tools you will need to obtain these goals; and how much time do you want to devote to your growing area – whether this be your yard or your garden or both.

If gardening organically, mulching around plants (which also aids in retaining moisture) helps keep the weed population at bay. Getting to the weeds before they go to seed will reduce future weed populations and hand pulling is often the best way to do this. The best time to do this is after a rain or anytime the ground is moist – after watering, for example. Having the right tool for the right job makes any kind of gardening easier and thus, more enjoyable.

Whether you are planting vegetables or flowers, plant them as close together as possible which will help with weed control. The tags which usually come with your seeds or plants will almost always give you this information.

If gardening with herbicides, read the labels! Many disasters could have been prevented had the homeowner done so. Initially it can be frustrating to distinguish weeds from perennials or wildflowers as they come through the ground in the Spring. With time that will be easier. Read up on what you want your herbicide to do before going to purchase it and if possible, go to a gardening or hardware store which will have knowledgeable staff to assist you.

There are many different kinds of herbicides and you want to match the product with what you want it to do. Some are pre-emergent which means they need to be applied before the weeds have germinated. Others need to be applied after. A good source for this research is your County Extension office. Most land grant universities (such as Purdue!) have publications you can print out for free.

Some herbicides come in ready-touse form. Other herbicides come in concentrated form and need to be mixed. If you are mixing your own, label the container you will be using! Many a plant has lost its life because the homeowner used the same container for fertilizing their plants as had been used earlier for an herbicide.

Another precaution is to watch the weather. Check how long the product needs to be on the plant before it rains so as to not lose its effectiveness. If it is windy, the herbicide can easily drift onto desirable plants. If you live near water, read the label very carefully as many herbicides can contaminate water. And lastly, if there is any chance of runoff from the herbicide you are using, check the label. Many plants have been ruined because they were downhill from an area being treated with an herbicide that kills everything.

Label reading can be tedious – but can save you a lot of headaches down the road. Hint: If using a pre-emergent weed killer on your lawn in the Springtime, timing is everything! Put it on when the forsythias are in bloom!

Now to the tools. Tools that can help you in the battle against weeds come in all different sorts and sizes! If you are relatively new to this task and have gardening friends, ask for recommendations. Most will probably have favorites and can give you a basis from which to pick. For weed control a hoe and trowel are a good beginning. For larger areas you may want to purchase a tiller. I suggest picking quality tools to begin with as it will save you time and money in the long run. Treat your tools with gentle care. Keep them out of the rain, clean them at season’s end and they should last a long time.

If you are a beginning gardener, I recommend starting with a small area if you are planting a vegetable or a flower garden. Its easy to get discouraged with the weed battle, otherwise. There are more considerations if planning a lawn. Read up on your options before “digging” in. How weed-free do you want your outdoor areas to be? How much time and money do you want to spend? There is no “right” answer to these questions.

And remember, gardening is fun. So keep an eye on the flowers – and not the weeds! n

Did You Know?

The Fourth of July was celebrated annually in the 18th and 19th centuries, but it wasn’t recognized as a federal holiday until 1870.

shutterstock.com

Three presidents have died on the Fourth of July: Thomas Jefferson and John Adams in 1826 and James Monroe in 1831.

One World Trade Center in New York City is 1,776 feet tall to commemorate the year the US declared its Independence from Britain.

... and now you know! Information from Parade.com

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