TOPS Magazine March 2012

LEXINGTON’S MOST READ MAGAZINE TOPSINLEX L e x i n g t o n ’s M o s t R e a d M a g a z i n e

Priceless | March 2012

IN LEX.COM

March 2012 vol. 6 no. 3

Home & Garden

Designer & Decorator Secrets | Mary Jo Perino | Home Tours

Volume 6, No. 3

LEXINGTON’S MOST READ MAGAZINE

TOP EVENTS 18

Top Marketing Group

465 East High Street, Suite 201 Lexington, KY 40507-1938 859.543.TOPS (8677) 859.514.1621 (fax) TopsInLex.com | LexScene.com Keith Yarber

President / Publisher kyarber@topsmarketing.com

Kristen Oakley Associate Publisher, TOPS Magazine Sr. Account Manager kristen@topsmarketing.com Melissa Meatyard

Editor, TOPS Magazine Magazine Design & Layout melissa@topsmarketing.com

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WHO’S WHO

Danielle Pope

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Out & About Meet the Media: Mary Jo Perino Community Spotlight: Lexington Habitat for Humanity 80 Chevy Chase Cottage 92 Stunning Dream Home 122 WOW Wedding: Elizabeth & Stephen 129 Wedding Announcements 130 TOP Shots

Associate Publisher, LexScene Account Manager danielle@topsmarketing.com

Teri Turner

Account Manager teri@topsmarketing.com

Buffy Lawson

Account Manager buffy@topsmarketing.com

Katherine Tierney

Account Manager katherine@topsmarketing.com

Amanda Harper

Editor, LexScene Magazine Head Writer, TOPS Magazine amandah@topsmarketing.com

Judson Ridgway

Advertising Creative Director judson@topsmarketing.com

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Contributing Writers Kelly Adams, Hallie Bandy, Kristin Espeland Gourlay, Blake Hannon, Amanda Harper, Michele Landers, Buffy Lawson, Melissa Meatyard, Michelle Rauch, Doug Smith, Sue Ann Truitt

Cover Photo by Conrhod Zonio Contributing Photographers Paul Atkinson Judy & Brian Myers Alex Orlov Karen & Eddie Boden Dr. Michael Huang Shaun Ring Jaron Johns Conrhod Zonio

Interns Kelly Adams Allison Hord Andy Maggard Ayana Wheeler

Have an event you would like covered? Photo questions?

Contact photographer@topsinlex.com

To Advertise Your Business,

call 543-8677

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WUKY’s Winemaker’s Dinner & Heard it Through the Grapevine TOPS February Preview Party Child Care Council “Soup”er Bowl Party Mid-Knight Stakes Caribbean Knights Commerce Lexington’s Annual Dinner Commerce Lexington’s Annual Dinner cont.

UK Basketball H’Artful of Fun: Rebel with a Cause The BeLoved Gala American Saddlebred Museum Anniversary CastleCarnival Mardi Gras Masquerade Party Shinnenkai Japanese New Year Bluegrass Sports Awards LexArts Fund for the Arts Campaign Kick-off

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WHAT’S NEW 43 44

About the Cover 37th Central Kentucky Annual Home Garden & Flower Show 105 Business News

WHAT TO DO 14 40 55 56 58 63 64 67 68 77 78 121

Community Calendar The Merrick Inn Home & Garden ‘How To’ Beginner’s Garden Mistakes In the ‘Buf’ Keeping the Fences Mended Staff Picks: Home & Garden Posh Pets Designer Secrets: Revealed Tablescapes TOP Design How to Begin Planning your Wedding Flowers

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What To Do

TOP HAPPENINGS Our Topparazzi photographers are everywhere! Please check our website for updated event information and please be aware of the changing nature of events.

March 1 UK Men’s Basketball v Georgia 9PM Rupp Arena Chris Botti 8PM EKU Center for the Arts ekucenter.com Hot 1 Baltimore 7:30PM Downtown Arts Center projectseetheatre.com

March 2 Lexington Ballet: Coming Home Arts Place lexingtonballet.org Two New Exhibitions 7PM Land of Tomorrow landoftomorrow.org Celtic Fiddler Liz Carroll with Pianist Cormac McCarthy 7:30PM Transylvania University transy.edu Women’s Half-Ton Health Challenge 6PM-8PM North Lexington YMCA

March 3 Kentucky Magic Dinner Theater 6PM deSha’s kentuckymagictheater.com Brad Paisley Virtual Reality Tour 7:30PM Rupp Arena rupparena.com

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Greg Morton 7:15PM & 9:45PM Comedy Off Broadway comedyoffbroadway.com Opening: Bean Family Quilt Exhibit 12PM-4PM Bluegrass Heritage Museum, Winchester bgheritage.com

March 4 Fiddler on the Roof 4PM Norton Center nortoncenter.com

March 5 Greener Lawn Care 6PM The Arboretum ca.uky.edu/arboretum

March 6 Kiwanis Annual Soup Day 11AM-7PM Cavalry Baptist Church Greener Lawn Care 10AM The Arboretum ca.uky.edu/arboretum

March 7 Kenan Lecture Series 7:30PM-9PM Transylvania University transy.edu

March 9 Come Fly Away with Me 8PM Lexington Opera House lexingtonoperahouse.com

March 10 Run for the Hill 9AM Keeneland cardinalhill.org Diavolo Dance Theater 8PM Norton Center nortoncenter.com BRCC’s March Matters 5K Run/ Walk 9:30AM Coldstream Research Park bluegrassrapecrisis.org Come Fly Away with Me Lexington Opera House lexingtonoperahouse.com Hepcats Sock Hop 8PM-12AM Arthur Murray Dance Studio luv2swingdance.com A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant, A Prayer 8PM Thorn Hill Education Center frankfortensemble.org Wags & Drags 6PM The Barrel House sc4paws.org

March 11 Come Fly Away with Me Lexington Opera House lexingtonoperahouse.com A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant, A Prayer 8PM Thorn Hill Education Center frankfortensemble.org

What To Do

March 13 Ballet Magnificat 7PM The Lyric Theatre krdt.org

March 14 Etta May 7:15PM & 9:45PM Comedy Off Broadway comedyoffbroadway.com

March 15

Blue Grass Trust’s Antiques & Garden Show 10AM-6PM Kentucky Horse Park bluegrasstrust.org Green is the Thing 11AM & 2PM The Arboretum ca.uky.edu/arboretum St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival 11AM-7PM Downtown lexingtonstpatsparade.com

March 18 Geri Allen & Timeline 7:30PM Norton Center nortoncenter.com Gala Preview for Blue Grass Trust’s Antiques & Garden Show 7PM-10PM Kentucky Horse Park bluegrasstrust.org Bad Seed Carriage House Theatre studioplayers.org

March 16 Blue Grass Trust’s Antiques & Garden Show 10AM-6PM Kentucky Horse Park bluegrasstrust.org

March 17 Hoops, Hops & Hope 8PM-12AM The Barrel House bluegrassjuniors.org

Blue Grass Trust’s Antiques & Garden Show 11AM-5PM Kentucky Horse Park bluegrasstrust.org

March 20 Trans-Siberian Orchestra Beethoven’s Last Night 7:30PM Rupp Arena rupparena.com Riparian Zone Restoration 10AM The Arboretum ca.uky.edu/arboretum

March 22 Don Quixote presented by Moscow Festival Ballet 7:30PM Singletary Center for the Arts uky.edu/scfa

Native Flowers, Shrubs & Trees Attractive to Bees Shamrock Shuffle 7PM Gluck Equine Center 8AM Victorian Square shamrockshuffle3k.com ca.uky.edu/arboretum Shamrock Garden Party 10AM-2PM Embassy Suites lwckentucky.org

5th Annual Bluegrass Local Food Summit 8AM-5PM Crestwood Christian Church sustainlex.org

March 24 Welcome Spring Celebration 11AM & 2PM The Arboretum ca.uky.edu/arboretum Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America Kick Off Party 2PM Simply Love Studio cctakesteps.org Comedy Central Live: Gabriel Iglesias 7PM Singletary Center for the Arts uky.edu/scfa 8th Annual Walk with Sidney 8:30AM Fayette Mall Food Court khaky.org

March 27 Moulin Rouge at the Ballet 7:30PM Norton Center nortoncenter.com

March 30 H2O: A Charity Water Benefit Concert 8PM-1AM The Cellar martinrayvaughan.com UK Symphony Orchestra and the Lexington Singers 8PM EKU Center for the Arts ekucenter.com Carmina Burana 8PM EKU Center for the Arts ekucenter.com

March 31 5th Annual Wine Barrel Tasting for the Springs 11AM-5PM Various wineries mcconnellsprings.org

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Out & About Chuck Ellinger at the Urban Active Fitness Challenge

Paul Atkinson or James Dean?

Isobel Chewning at Specialty Store Sale Spectacular

Don Marquess and CEO James White at the Jamba Juice Grand Opening

Happy 6th Anniversary Belle Vie!

Waiting Line for TOPS MAGAZINE PREVIEW PARTY

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Top Events

Frank Becker and Laura Kaplan

Sheila and Greg David

Ember Burdette

Sullivan University and The Lexington Farmers Market Chefs Market Chefs

Gail Branham and Russ Waugh

Gail Bennett

Mr. and Mrs. Tom Biederman

Kay and Tom Harris

WUKY’s Winemaker’s Dinner & Heard it Through the Grapevine At the 2012 Winemaker’s dinner, Chef Steve Geddes of the acclaimed Local 127 restaurant in Cincinnati created an elegant multiple course meal that was prepared, plated and discussed by Chef Geddes on several large video screens in the dining hall. Each course was paired with a complimenting wine from the Trinchero Family Estates wine collection. Heard it Through the Grapevine 2012 was Oh My! Oh Mayan! The 20th annual event featured great food and spirits from around the bluegrass. wuky.org Photos by Paul Atkinson

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Top Events

Tiffany Whalen and John Berry

Kim Combs, Dave Ross and Kristin Davis

Keith Yarber and Macy Sudduth

Barkley de Wet and Katherine Tierney

Marsha, Jay, John and Kristen Oakley

Beth Hammond, Bill Dotson and Amy Stofer

Austin McKinney and Katie Krumm

Julie McDearmon, Stuart Hurt and Shelia Bayes

TOPS February Preview Party

The February TOPS Preview Party was held in the Atrium at Lexington Green Mall, hosted beautifully by Skin Solutions, Abundant Living, Urban Active, Leatherwood Wines, and Schroeder Family Dentistry. The Romance issue also featured the 12 finalists of the $100,000 Abundant Transformation Contest. topsinlex.com Photos by Alex Orlov

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Top Events

Dan Sprague and Jeri Isbell

Crinda Franke

Tom and Marty Myers

Bradley Stevenson

Susan & Ralph Coldiron

Larry Smith, Judy & Kent Lowe and Chris Smith

Joy Breeding, Bob Estes and Terry Deluca

Child Care Council “Soup”er Bowl Party at Parlay Social Parlay Social recently hosted the first ever “Soup”er Bowl Party benefitting the Child Care Council of Kentucky on January 9th. Parlay owners, Bob Estes and Ralph Coldiron along with Manager Joy Breeding and Chef Blair had approached the Child Care Council on this event and how they would like to assist the Council on a project that would benefit kids. Huge success for one afternoon! childcarecouncilofky.com Photos by Alex Orlov

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Top Events

Kelly and Rob Brewer

Darlene Silvestri and Fr. Norman

Carol Pippen and Natalee McDowell

Lisa James

Rita Wachs and Lorie Artrip

Matt Woomer, Donna Yarber, Dr. Paul Kearny, Stephanie Healy, Keith Yarber and Patti Woomer

Ann Bruggeman and Erin Hilton

Lisa Gumm-Gray and Katherine McCarty

Lexington Catholic Mid-Knight Stakes: Caribbean Knights Mid-Knight Stakes 2012: Caribbean Knights Presented by Quantrell Cadillac/Volvo/Subaru, was a wonderful night for Lexington Catholic High School! Mid-Knight Stakes is LCHS’s largest fundraiser and consists of dinner, live and silent auctions, a raffle and concludes with a dance after party. Thank you to all who attended, chaired committees, volunteered, donated and supported this important fundraiser to help make this the most successful Mid-Knight Stakes! lexingtoncatholic.com Photos by Brian and Judy Myers

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Top Events

Vitale Buford and Daryl Smith

Tom Blackman, David Elsen and Paul Chartier

Hope English and Stephen Hillenmeyer

Liz Bennett

Diana & Jeff Koonce

Dell Link and Amanda Holifield

Debbie Long

Janie Polk & Wanda Bertram

KEMI Presents Commerce Lexington’s Annual Dinner Approximately 1,000 business professionals, community and regional leaders, and elected officials attended the 2012 Commerce Lexington Inc. Annual Dinner presented by Kentucky Employers’ Mutual Insurance at Lexington Center on Thursday, February 9.

CommerceLexington.com Photos by Alex Orlov

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Top Events

Gene Hardy and Connie Joiner

Barney Miller and Connie Jo Miller

Bonnie Juinta and Bob Quick

Councilman Bill Farmer and Pamela Trautner

Bill Lear and David Owen

Sheri Evans Depp

Darrell Ishmael

Cheryl Eadens and Abby Vaughn

KEMI Presents Commerce Lexington’s Annual Dinner This event gave a look back at 2011, highlighted some of the key goals of the organization, and recognized Commerce Lexington’s most involved members, volunteers, and community leaders.

CommerceLexington.com Photos by Alex Orlov

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Top Events

UK Basketball The Wildcats are headed into March with a number one seed, but that is no surprise to the fans here in Lexington! Big Blue Nation has been showing it’s true colors all across the SEC as Kentucky has dominated in conference play. Let’s get ready for the Big Dance and remember We Back the Cats! ukathletics.com Photos by Dr. Michael Huang

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We Back

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the CATS

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Who’s Who

MEET THE MEDIA MARY JO PERINO: TRUE BLUE (AND BLUEGRASS) FAN

by Michelle Rauch Photos courtesy of David Lloyd and Mary Jo Perino 34

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Who’s Who

Mary Jo Perino’s interest in television was cultivated

at a very young age. She grew up in the small Minnesota town of Alexandria. Her grandfather started a small TV station there. “I knew when I was about three years old. My dad worked (at the TV station) in promotions.

So when I was 2, 3, and 4 years old I would go to work with my dad and I’d sit on the anchor desk every day and pretend I was doing the news,” she recalls. She also tested her talent for weathercasting. “That was when weather maps were like magnets; i.e., magnet of a cloud, magnet of a sun, etc. So I’d do the weather.”

Back then, broadcasting sports was not on her radar.

the weekends. That lasted a year and gave her the experience and confidence to market herself strictly as a sports anchor/reporter. She sent tapes to larger cities hoping for her big break.

It happened. LEX18 liked what they saw in the aspiring sports broadcaster. Mary Jo was hired for the sports department in 2002. She anchored sports on the weekend and covered the Cats, high school teams and everything sports-related.

She continued in that role for four years before accepting a job at CNN in Atlanta. It was a different pace, for sure. There were luxurious perks at the network that you don’t get at the local level. “I got my hair and makeup done ev“I’ve always loved sports ery day. Airbrushed makeand played sports in high up by professional makeup school,” she says. Attendartists.” But bigger was ing college at the Univernot necessarily better. “At Mary Jo with Leslie Visser in North Carolina sity of Missouri, Mary Jo where she received her 2nd Kentucky Sportscaster of the Year award.

Headline News there just worked for the football wasn’t much work to be team her entire college done, so we never left the career. She has always been studio—ever,” she recalls. a big sports fan, but adCovering sports for CNN mits—back then—she did was not like covering not realize the opportunisports for ESPN. “That’s ty existed for her to broadwhat I missed. I like being cast sports as a female. “It at the games. I like interwas the late 90s, so there viewing people, covering were some females but not athletes, getting to know like it is today. It was not them.” She wasn’t getting necessarily an option for any of that access sitting me at school; everyone in an Atlanta studio under pushed me into news,” she the lights. “I enjoy high says. After graduating from school, college, and pros. college, Mary Jo landed Lexington is a place where her first job in TV in Terra you can get all three. I was Haute, Indiana. After two hoping when I went to years reporting news, she with Alan Cutler at Big Blue Madness Headline News I would get made an all or nothing deto cover a Super Bowl or a Final Four or something like cision. “I decided I was going to get out of the business or that,” she says.

Instead, there were four sports anchors at someone was going to give me a sports job.” The timing CNN. One day, on the rare occasion when they did get was just right. The weekend sports anchor at the station an out of town assignment, Mary Jo waited with anticiwas leaving. She entered her news director’s office “on my pation.

“They said ‘Mary Jo you get to go the Kentucky hands and knees, begging” as she says. She made an offer Derby!’

I said, ‘great, I’ve done the Kentucky Derby four her boss couldn’t refuse. She would continue to be a news times’ (not that I don’t love it, but I wanted a different reporter three days a week if she could anchor sports on experience),” she says.

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Who’s Who Her time at the network was short-lived. After one year, Mary Jo was back in the bluegrass. This time around, she settled into the main sports anchor job back at LEX18.

She returned in 2007 with no regrets. “It’s been awesome!

It’s absolutely home. My son was born here. I’ll never leave Lexington—I’m here for the long haul.”

remember my son’s first Kentucky game. Sam was about two years old and he was just starting to talk,” she says.

He named one of his first teddy bears, which happened to be blue, Rich Brooks. “So I’m trying to raise my son the same way!” she says with a big smile. “It’s bourbon—it’s horses—it’s basketball.”

She has a list of reasons to plant her roots here. “I love the size of the city. I liked Atlanta a lot, but when I first came to Lexington it was the biggest city (by far) I’d ever lived in.

I love that it’s kind of big but, not too big. I love the people here; I love the horses. I never thought I’d say that, but I love being around the horse industry. The fan base is so passionate.” It’s that passion that gets her charged up. “I challenge you to go to five places Enjoying UK Fan Day with son Sam in the country where the fans are more passionate about their teams than Kentucky fans.

It makes my job more important because people demand to know what’s going on (in KY),” Mary Jo says. She credits the passion among Kentucky fans (in part) to the lack of competition for attention.

While there are pro-teams in Cincinnati to root for, Mary Jo sums it up simply, “It’s still Ohio. It’s a different state.”

In addition to having pro teams a state away, tradition plays a big part in the Kentucky fan base. “I think it’s the way people are raised here. Kids are born and their parents can tell you ‘he watched his first Kentucky basketball game when he was three days old’. That’s just how it is. I

There have been many memorable moments during her ten years in Lexington. The most memorable: Kentucky’s win over LSU in 2007; the Final Four last year and the 2005 Derby. Giacamo won that year and so did Mary Jo. “He was the only horse I bet on that day. The odds were 50–1. I was so excited!”

Mary Jo is also looking forward to the future of her Alma Mater, the University of Missouri.

“They are going to be in the SEC now, so I finally get to cover my Alma Mater; although I haven’t figured out who I’m going to cheer for when Kentucky and Missouri play each other.

I am going to be very torn—very torn,” she says.

“I decided I was going to get out of the business or someone was going to give me a sports job.”

FREE TIME Mary Jo follows sports on and off camera.

“I watch sports all the time,” she says. The Minnesota Vikings is her favorite football team, bar none. It’s a passion she’s trying to pass on, “I’m trying to get Sam to love the Vikings but he just won’t. He tries to get my goat.” He’s doing a really good job at that. Take this season’s loss to the Denver Broncos. Her son told her he wanted a football card of Tim Tebow. Mary Jo jokingly recalls, “I said buddy, if that’s what you want for Christmas you are not

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Who’s Who getting a single present!” Don’t worry—Christmas went just fine for Sam. That said, “We’re serious about sports; football especially,” Mary Jo says.

(Ina’s husband). I want to be Ina and Jeffrey!” She favors Italian food.

Mary Jo and her son are also big Wildcat fans. Sam knows all the players and Coach Cal; he can even do the John Wall dance! Mary Jo beams with pride and says she is raising a very good sports fan.

Another big part of Mary Jo’s time away from work is spent with Sam, now five years old. “I try to hang out with him as much as I can since I work late nights. He is in kindergarten now, so any free time is spent doing mommy things,” she says.

She loves movies and has seen “a million”. When her dad got out of TV he bought a movie theater in her hometown when she was 6, something he still owns. “So I’ve never paid for a movie in my whole life.” Her favorite flick is Dumb and Dumber. Mary Jo claims to have watched it 500 times and could watch it 500 more. She also loves to bowl, sing karaoke and admits she is obsessed with the Food Network. As far as cooking in her own kitchen she says, “I try. I did my whole Thanksgiving with Barefoot Contessa (recipes). I love her. I want to find a Jeffrey

“I really do feel like I’m living my dream. I’m at a great station. I work with great people. They are really flexible with me since I want to spend more time with my son.”

Mary Jo has become a big Kentucky fan during her ten years here and can’t wait to go to the games. Her job gives her a front row seat to all the action; a perk that is not taken for granted. “People would kill for my seats at the North Carolina game or at the Louisville game. To have that and get paid for it is really living the dream. It almost doesn’t feel like work.”

You can watch Mary Jo weekdays on WLEX at 5:30, 6, & 11 Listen Sunday mornings on 590 WVLK 9-11 Join her 6,000 other followers on Twitter and and look for her Facebook Fan page.

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What To Do

THE MERRICK INN LONG-TIME LEXINGTON STAPLE MAINTAINS TRADITION ALONG WITH INNOVATION

by Blake Hannon

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What To Do

B

luegrass music. Bourbon. Horse racing. Basketball.

Appalachian mountains. These are just a few things forever associated with Kentucky.

When you’re talking about Lexington restaurants, you have plenty to choose from. However, you could argue that none has epitomized the goodness of KY cuisine quite like the Merrick Inn. Tucked away in the cozy apartment/townhome community on 1074 Merrick Drive off of Tates Creek Road, Merrick Inn has been dedicated to giving Central Kentuckians their fill of quality food and signature Southern hospitality for the past 38 years. After almost four decades, this icon of Lexington’s culinary scene has gotten more than a few things right.

First, there’s the restaurant’s décor – a converted mansion where the tablecloths are white, the wood chairs reveal their age in their occasional creaks and the walls are adorned with race-day photographs and equine art. You can almost hear the lyrics to “My Old Kentucky Home” playing in your head on the way to your seat. The rooms are quiet and tables are close in proximity. Sure, you can hear most everyone’s conversations in some of these rooms, but you also get the sense you could chime in and not be intrusive.

The food at Merrick Inn makes an effort to keep the classics in tact but won’t be afraid to tamper with the formula in a dish or two. Appetizers feature Lexington favorites like fried banana peppers or you can try their fried calamari, which they inject with a Far East feel by tossing it with an Asian slaw and sesame ginger vinaigrette. I gave the fried green tomatoes a shot, which was a healthy serving of sizable slices topped with a delectable ham salad and some added sweetness from a peach glaze.

After a house salad (which, to my delight, featured crumbled egg), it was time for my entrée. There were plenty of flavors to choose from. I could have gone with the pecan crusted pork tenderloin, which our server highly recommended. The seafood offerings included

walleye pike, salmon and sole with red meat coming in the form of a ribeye, New York Strip, London broil or lamb chops. Finally, I went with the restaurants very different takes on a common protein: The chicken breast.

First, there was the aptly named Southern Comfort, which featured the restaurant’s legendary crunchy fried chicken and country ham with red eye gravy and a spiced peach. Choosing some thick and creamy mashed potatoes to accompany this perfectly salted main course, along with the complimentary fresh-baked dinner rolls, made this the kind of meal that could result in the loosening of a belt notch and a nap when you get back to the homestead.

Then, there was the Almond Chicken, which the waiter said was one of the restaurant’s more adventurous takes on poultry. The presentation was wonderful, with breasts served coated in a delicately flaky but crunchy crust. But the butter sauce sealed the deal with a raspberry swirl and a hint of something I couldn’t put my palette on until the server told me it was Grand Marnier.

It was a welcome curveball and proof that Merrick Inn isn’t just resting on its laurels.

Dessert features plenty of favorites, like bread pudding and pound cake with a more-is-better approach to butter and sugar. This was apparent when I ordered the day’s dessert special, a butterscotch pie that was incredibly rich with perfectly browned meringue. I couldn’t finish it off and asked the server to take it away only for him to bring the last bit back in a small box without me asking. It was just an individual example of Merrick Inn’s instinctual approach to its guests’ hospitality.

The Merrick Inn makes plenty of efforts to lure the people in and keep its current clientele happy. Its patio is a must-stop when the weather gets warm. Future offerings like bourbon and cigar tastings and staples like its luaus and fish fries keep things fun. But The Merrick Inn doesn’t need these little extras to keep its doors open.

It’s Bluegrass State flair to food, comfort and service is always the main attraction.

859.269.5417 | 1074 Merrick Drive | themerrickinn.com

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What’s New

HOME & GARDEN As March begins, so do plans to tackle all sorts of home projects. From simple spring cleaining to major overhauls, sunnier days bring plenty of items on to-lists across Central Kentucky.

No matter how large or small your own set of home goals may be this season, TOPS has a bevy of inspiration this month for any abode.

In this issue, we’ve profiled plenty of ways to make the most of the coming home improvement months. Interior designers and decorators spill their trade secrets; we share how you can help build a home for someone in need, and we feature two incredible Lexington homes that can’t be missed. Be sure to check out what home and garden items our staff find absolutely indispensible, too!

TOPS Home & Garden issue has plenty of dirt on home improvement projects, so get digging!

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What’s New

ON THE COVER We pay homage to Grant Wood’s ‘American Gothic’, one of the world’s most recognized American paintings. The original hearkens to the 19th century life representing the role of labor, home and garden in daily life. Our version, by photographer Conrhod Zonio, is updated a bit to reflect life in the 21st century, but still has a markedly traditional sensiblity.

American Gothic

by Grant Wood

Photo by: Conrhod Zonio Styled by: Kristen Oakley Nassim’s clothing: Bella Rose Fred’s suspender straps & bow tie: Howard & Miller Hair & makeup: Você

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What To Do

by Kelly Adams

Imagine living the dream and walking onto the legendary hardwood of Rupp Arena.

The lights are beaming at you from overhead and every eye is on you as you reach out and clasp your hand around the prize. Peacock bulbs.

Peacock bulbs? Gladiolus Acidanthera to be precise; a beautiful and fragrant variety of perennial. That can only mean one thing. Once the court silences from the deficit of Kentucky basketball fans, the real fun moves in with The AAA Insurance Central Kentucky Home, Garden and Flower Show on April 12–15, 2012.

The Central Kentucky Home, Garden and Flower Show is the largest and longest running home and garden expo in Kentucky. For 37 years, it has featured everything you want to know or need to acquire for living spaces indoors and out.

Doug Hart, consulting show manager at MAC Events in Covington, Ky, is the mastermind behind the AAA Insurance Central Kentucky Home, Garden and Flower show. He was brought in last year to revamp the show.

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“We are stepping up our game this year,” said Hart. “There are so many new things going on.

It’s been challenging, but this year’s event is going to be more rewarding for vendors and far more useful to visitors than ever before.”

Some of the new and exciting features coming this year are the “show within a show” exhibits. These will be separate show pavilion events that will divide the overwhelmingly large event into easy to navigate smaller shows.

“These concentrated clusters will feature the two most popular home improvement projects; outdoor living and kitchen, bath and remodeling,” says Hart.

Rupp Arena will house one of these shows within a show. What’s Up in Rupp? presented by the Better Business Bureau will be a complete showcase of outdoor living demonstrations, products and ideas.

“Outdoor living is more than just landscaping.

It is about creating a room or useable living space in your backyard,” says Hart.

What’s Up In Rupp? will feature a Home, Garden and Flower Market where shoppers looking for the perfect addition to their home or garden will not be disappointed. The market will feature local retailers and unique vendors from around the country that specialize in home décor, garden accessories and live plants.

One of the most unique exhibits that will be presented in Rupp is the Dry Stone Conservancy live build. The Dry Stone Conservancy is a

What To Do and has since built his garden-designing career on the rooftops in New York City. He is a specialist in creating beauty in a small space and will bestow his secrets to you right in Rupp Arena.

The Kentucky Architectural Artists presented by the Kentucky Arts Council will also be in Heritage Hall. This is a first for the show. Here, beautiful permanent fixtures for the home and garden created by talented Kentucky artists will be on display.

The AAA Insurance Central Kentucky Home, Garden and Flower Show is going through a lot of changes this year, but veteran attendees won’t be disappointed. All the favorites will be back and the new and improved sections will only make for a more exciting experience.

Kentucky-based nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the beautiful dry stone walls around Lexington and throughout the state of Kentucky.

At their live build, the Dry Stone Conservancy will actually demonstrate the proper technique to building a replica of the famous Kentucky dry stone walls right there on the basketball court!

In addition to the new exhibits in Rupp, the UK Department of Horticulture and the Arboretum will be back displaying beautiful flowers and plants available for purchase.

The other show within a show will be just steps away in Heritage Hall. The Kitchen, Bath and Remodeling Showcase is going to be a huge display of the best companies showing off original ideas on how to make your home unique and inviting.

“This is perhaps the biggest change in the show’s history,” says Hart. “Before, we had everything scattered around the show, but this being the single largest category within the show, we needed to make it more efficient.”

Also in Heritage Hall will be the Bluegrass Greenworks Green Zone where visitors can learn all they need to know about making their home energy efficient.

One of the feature exhibits in the Heritage Hall show will be the Small Space Gardens presented by Meade Hardscapes.

Here visitors will get to see eight small gardens; these are real environments to put in your backyard. This compartmentalizes your backyard into smaller, livable areas.

The Small Space Gardens exhibit will feature award-winning garden designer and Central Kentucky native Jon Carloftis.

Carloftis graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1986

“By focusing on the two most popular home improvement projects, outdoor living and kitchen, bath and remodeling, we are enhancing the show and the experience for the visitors,” says Hart.

The planning team has been working for months to focus on bringing vendors and exhibits to the show that can offer guests, who are planning a project, the products and services they need to get the job done.

“Gardeners, shoppers and homeowners interested in a landscape or remodeling project are going to love the show,” enthuses Hart. “We’ve got everything you could possibly need for the home or garden. I can’t imagine anything would be missing.”

The AAA Insurance Central Kentucky Home, Garden and Flower Show Thursday - Sunday April 12th - April 15th Lexington Center Heritage Hall and Rupp Arena Thursday and Friday: 5:00pm - 9:30pm Saturday: 11:00am - 9:30pm Sunday: 12noon - 6:00pm Tickets are $8 for adults and children 14 and under are free. Look for discount coupons on the AAA Insurance Home, Garden and Flower Show website.

Parking is free. ckyhomeshow.com facebook.com/ckyhomeshow

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COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Who’s Who

HELPING FAMILIES, ONE HOME AT A TIME

by Kristin Espeland Gourlay

Diana Jackson, her husband, and three teenage children moved in to their new home on August 19, 2011, in a quiet subdivision in Lexington. They were just like any other family, settling in, unpacking boxes in a brand new house.

But how many families put in more than 500 hours of sweat and hard work, alongside an army of volunteers, to build that home before moving in?

How many get to own the home they helped build, after decades of renting in substandard or public housing?

When Diana Jackson found out she’d been accepted, she says she felt great. But she knew it would require a lot of hard work before she’d be handed a key to her own home.

“First, we started classes in 2010,” says Jackson. “And we had to help build other people’s houses before we got started on ours.”

Central Kentucky volunteers donated 87,659 hours in 2011 alone (up by nearly 10,000 hours over 2010).

With the help of Lexington Habitat for Humanity, the focus of this month’s Community Spotlight, there will be more homecomings for people like Jackson and her family.

Habitat for Humanity (the international organization) was born in 1976 as a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry, the brainchild of Millard Fuller and his wife, Linda. Since then, the organization has built or repaired more than half a million decent, affordable homes for more than two million people worldwide.

Local Habitat affiliates, like Lexington Habitat, choose families in need who demonstrate a willingness to pitch in as well as an ability to repay a no-interest mortgage.

The selection process is rigorous and families must go through financial training to qualify.

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In the meantime, Jackson and her family were living in substandard housing on a loud, busy street in Lexington. They were paying more in rent than they’re paying on their Habitat mortgage now— and not getting as much for their money. “The refrigerator was broken, we had roaches. It was bad,” says Jackson. And the neighborhood? “A drunk on every corner, prostitutes…”

Now, says Jackson, the family lives in the four bedroom, two bathroom home they helped build. There’s enough room for everyone. And the neighborhood feels much safer. “Oh gosh, [there’s] no liquor stores, [it’s] not too noisy. It’s a nice little subdivision,” says Jackson.

In keeping with Habitat tradition, a cadre of volunteers helped build the new home, and Jackson and her family hammered and sawed right along with them. “It felt like I wanted to get every nail just right!” says Jackson.

She’s still incredulous about the time and effort volunteers—perfect strangers—put in. “I couldn’t believe so many people would want to help us get a house,” says

Who’s Who

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Diana Jackson and her family spent over 500 hours helping to build their own Habitat home.

Jackson. “We had people bring their kids out and they would just work so many hours that you wouldn’t even expect. They never complained how tired they were.”

Jackson works as a cashier at a McDonald’s. Her husband is a server at the Lexington Country Club. With three growing teenagers, she never thought they’d be able to buy their own home. She and her husband would not have qualified for a traditional mortgage through a commercial bank. But because Lexington Habitat for Humanity serves families making 30 – 60% less than the area median income, Jackson was able to imagine a different future for her family.

“For one, they know that they always have somewhere to go. That’s the reason I wanted a house, to keep for my kids forever.”

Celebrating a Quarter Century of Service Since incorporating in 1986, Lexington Habitat for Humanity has built homes with 355 families in Lexington.

Volunteers donated 87,659 hours in 2011 alone (up by nearly 10,000 hours over 2010), building houses, as well as helping staff Habitat’s ReStores (a retail store that takes donated building materials and sells them to the public to support Habitat’s efforts), working special events, and even assisting with photography, website design, and more.

Rachel Childress is executive director of Lexington Habitat for Humanity. She says that Habitat’s mission accomplishes more than putting a roof over one’s head. “A good place to live, a good place to call home has a significant impact on your life,” says Childress, citing better health and educational outcomes for her clients once they move in to a Habitat home. “When you’re not paying 50% or more of your income on your housing, you can afford medical care, education, those kinds of things.”

Childress says her office often talks to as many as 500 interested families a year, but only 15 to 20 will qualify. “These folks work really hard to get to the point where they qualify for our program,” she says. And that stringency has paid off.

According to Childress, 90% of Habitat families are either still in their homes or have already paid them off. Families with a troubled credit history—something with which lowincome people often struggle—aren’t necessarily turned away. What counts is their willingness to partner with the organization and the ability to pay off a mortgage. And that can have benefits, too. “A good mortgage history with us will establish a credit rating if they don’t have one,” she says, or improve it if they do.

Families who qualify must put in at least 250-500 hours of what Childress calls “sweat equity,” in homeownership

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Who’s Who Volunteers from Lexmark International Inc., a Lexingtonbased corporation that provides printing services, have helped fund and build more homes than any other corporate partner, says Childress. Their dedication seems to be part of the company’s fabric.

“You don’t have to know anything about construction,” says Volunteers Building Relationships, Not Just Homes Childress. “We’ll teach you!” And if you don’t want to use a saw or swing a hammer, there’s no need to worry, Chil- “I kind of married into Habitat,” says Steve Combs, a product development manager dress says. There are plenty An army of volunteers came together to donate their time and for Lexmark International. of skilled volunteers to do energy to help Diana and her family build their Habitat Home.

“My father-in-law was very the construction work and big into Habitat.” His future plenty of other kinds of tasks wife’s father asked him to go for the non-hammer types. on a Habitat trip to Ghana Habitat builds homes year to help build houses. And round, so there are ongoing Combs didn’t want to disapopportunities—indoors and point: “I was wondering,” he out. recalls, laughing, “if this was Lexington Habitat funds its a family right of passage!” He work with donations from built houses for a week and a corporations, individuals, half in the Western African churches, grants and Housnation and, 13 years later, is ing and Urban Development still deeply involved in the agency funds. Childress says organization (not to mention the organization doesn’t do married to his inspiration’s one big fundraiser, but sevdaughter). eral smaller events to raise Combs has been leading money, like the 3K “Shama team of Lexmark volunrock Shuffle” race, which teers for Habitat every year takes place on March 17, since he started working for 2012. The University of the corporation. “Our comKentucky has been sponpany was founded in 1991, soring an event that sounds and since that time we’ve had more than 2,000 volunteers pretty tasty—the “Krispy Kreme Challenge”—in which build 16 houses for Lexington Habitat for Humanity,” says participants run, eat 12 donuts, and run some more to pull Combs.

He coordinates with Habitat every year on the in donations. schedule for building a new house, recruitsing volunteers, But, says Childress, Sponsor groups give the biggest dollar and helping to plan the project. But Combs says the heart of amount. An organization can pay $42,500 to sponsor a par- the project is always the family they’re building for. ticular home, or “own the build.” “That’s about half of the actual cost [of the home],” says Chidress. “The difference “We get to go and meet the family. We learn their story,” he comes from mortgage receipts and Habitat’s other funding says. “We try to get the story out to all those who are volunsources.” Two groups in Lexington have sponsored more teering ahead of time.” than others.

Combs manages to inspire about 150 people to donate 1000 The Disciples for Habitat is a faith-based group that donates hours each year. And the company supports it. “One of the funds and volunteer hours to Lexington Habitat. “[They things that Lexmark does that really helps,” says Combs, “is have] served more families than any one sponsor group giveing you three days off to put toward volunteering in the that we have,” says Childress. “Some of their members were community.” Combs says that policy helps when he’s resome of our founders.” The group was awarded the Gover- cruiting. He encourages his department’s employees to take nor’s Award for Volunteerism last year. Childress says the the full three days. He knows they’ll enjoy the work and inDisciples, and dedicated supporters like them, make her or- teracting with the family and other volunteers. But the payoff, for Combs, comes on Dedication Day: the ceremony ganization’s work possible. when Habitat families receive the keys to their new home.

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COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

classes, working on other Habitat homes, and volunteering for Lexington Habitat. 100 hours must be on construction.

And they do it side by side with volunteers from local companies, faith groups and more, many of whom have never held a hammer in their lives.

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COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Who’s Who

The team’s hard work paid off and it was all smiles at the dedication of the completed Habitat House

“You see the volunteers that have worked on the house, you see the family, their community, friends, well-wishers. You see the emotion,” says Combs. “That just kind of takes the experience to another level.”

says Jackson. “He is the best...he still comes up to my work and gets a cup of coffee every morning. We sit and talk about our families. I’ve got so many new friends!”

Lexmark volunteers helped build Diana Jackson’s home, and some keep in touch. “I met one guy from Lexmark,”

Learn more, get in touch, and get involved with Lexington Habitat for Humanity: Visit them: Lexhabitat.org Follow them: Twitter.com/lexhabitat “Like” them on: Facebook.com/lexhabitat Volunteer: lexhabitat.org/opportunities.htm Sign up for the March 17 Shamrock Shuffle! lexhabitat.org/lexhabitatevents.htm Go shopping! Lexington Habitat operates ReStore at 451 Southland Drive, where donated new and gently used furniture, home accessories, building supplies and appliances are sold to the public at discounted prices. Proceeds from the sale of donated ReStore items support Lexington Habitat.

Dump the dumpster! Lexington Habitat operates a “deconstruction” program that removes salvageable items from buildings undergoing renovation or demolition. Items removed are then sold to the public at the Habitat ReStore. The program diverts valuable reusable resources from local landfills.

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What To Do

Ah, Spring! What an amazing season! As we begin to experience the signs of new life outside, many of us feel the urge to bring the outdoors in and renew our own “nests”.

With just a few simple changes, your entire home can look and feel transformed. First, put away darker, heavier linens and accessories. Spring is the perfect time to introduce lighter textures and colors. Speaking of color…the big colors for 2012 are pink, green, and aqua. Now, don’t panic if you have never considered using any of these colors in your home. First, keep in mind that each of them has numerous shades. Just introduce small doses of one color that compliments your home’s décor. One way to do this is through new occasional sofa cushions. Don’t be afraid to mix fabric textures and styles to keep it interesting.

Have your floral designer create a fun spring wreath for your front door. Request they include an unexpected element in the wreath…such as butterflies, a bird’s nest, or even a bunny. What a cheerful Spring Welcome for your friends, family, and neighbors!

H&G HOw TO

CREATION INSPIRATIONS: REFRESH YOUR HOME FOR SPRING

Next, give your family meals “a breath of fresh air”. Revive your kitchen table with a new centerpiece and cheerful linen napkins. Since the kitchen table is reserved for less formal family meals, these elements can be more relaxed, even a bit whimsical.

859.278.0030 | 210 Rosemont Garden

ADELÉ: TRADITION WITH A TWIST The look at Adelé is tradition with a twist. Traditional furniture lines are brought up to date when mixed with fashionable fabrics.

Pops of color abound in the store, whether on textiles, wallpaper, accessories or art work.

The design library includes sample books from Duralee, Kravet, Thibaut, Schumacher, Osborne & Little and Designer’s Guild among others. Customers are encouraged to spend time looking through these at their leisure.

At Adelé (pronounced A-de-lay) furniture, accessories and lighting mix with unique gifts and tableware in a distinctive setting. Each item has been handpicked by buyers Heather Hacker Reilly and Meghann van den Dool. Case goods from Noir and slipcovered furniture from Best Slipcover Company, both out of southern California, mix with occasional furnishings from some of the home accent industry’s leading manufacturers.

Need help determining what your design aesthetic is? Designer Meghann van den Dool offers advice and will put together a design plan to pull your look together. Whether it’s simply choosing fabric to reupholster a chair or make custom curtain panels, or assisting on a project of a larger scale, van den Dool works with the client to blend aesthetics with functionality, all the while keeping in consideration their desires and budget. The end result is a unique space indicative of the homeowner’s personality and taste.

At Adelé there are no set rules. Mixing different styles and genres is what makes good design interesting. Their goal is to bring something new and fresh to you and your home.

859.266.9930 | 445 S. Ashland Ave. | adelelexington.com

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What To Do

HOME GARDENING BEGINNER’S MISTAKES

by Michelle Rauch, Gardening Enthusiast

This Spring will be my third year into what I still consider a very new hobby for me. When I finally decided to roll up my sleeves and dig in the dirt I did so with zest and zeal. I remember my first outing to a local garden center. I was like a kid in a candy store.

I picked out three beautiful metal rimmed window boxes with cocoa liner that would be a permanent addition to my house. After that, I took my two tiered flatbed shopping cart and started picking a variety of plants and flowers to fill my boxes. It was fun choosing color, shape, and texture that would complement one another.

And oh how satisfying it was to assemble what would be the focal point of the front of my house. I was beaming with pride at my designs and they looked great; at least for a few days.

plants. Another mistake that didn’t help was planting everything too close. Again, not taking growth into consideration, I planted everything at what seemed to be an appropriate distance when they were little, but as they grew overcrowding became an issue.

Here’s the problem. I spent so much time on the aesthetic beauty, I did not pay any attention to the needs of each plant. Some of them bask in full sun. Others, like me, enjoy time in the sun and shade.

And then there are the plants that simply thrive in shade. Needless to say, I invested time and money in some beautiful plants that in a very short time died because they didn’t get the sun they so desperately needed. Note to self: read the tags placed in the plants when you buy them. They are there for a reason!

While I am on the subject of herbs, I will stop short of calling my last beginners adventure a mere mistake. Instead, I will admit I have thrown in the towel when it comes to growing herbs in pots.

With the exception of chives, I am a failure in this regard. This past summer I stuck my herbs in the ground and they did great. That said; if anyone has mastered what I can only assume is an art to growing herbs in pots, I welcome the advice. I would prefer to enjoy their beauty, fragrance and easy access right outside my back door instead of taking up precious space in my small garden plot.

How did my garden grow that first season? This brings me to mistake number two. My tomatoes produced a banner crop. The bell peppers, banana peppers, and cucumbers that were dwarfed by the towering tomatoes did not fare as well. I placed my plants in the ground without consideration to the growth pattern of each plant. Consequently, the tomatoes overshadowed the other

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Fortunately, when it comes to herbs I was tipped off about the penchant for growing (and more importantly SPREADING) that mint has. A friend of mine was very excited last summer when she told me she planted mint for the first time. I shared in her excitement telling her how she will love to add fresh mint to tea and water. That was short-lived and turned into a jaw dropping “Oh, no!” when she told me she placed fifteen mint plants in her yard!

Needless to say, her neighbors up and down her side of the street will be getting the unexpected surprise of mint sprouting in their yards this year. Consider yourself warned, Fairway neighborhood.

There is so much to learn that I have a hunch even twenty years from now I may make some mistakes that will still make me feel like a beginner. That’s okay—it simply means there is always something to learn. I embrace a hobby that I can nurture and— GROW!

What To Do

IN THE ‘BUF’ HONESTY

by Buff y Lawson Relationship Veteran

We had been living together for a couple of years and it was proving to be a healthy, fun loving, passionate, mature relationship. I love Mister Man more each day and he seems to adore me right back.

Being older and wiser myself, Mister Man and I have realistic expectations of love. Unlike previous relationships, Mister Man was not expected, by me, to be the leading role in THE NOTEBOOK; likewise, I was not required to be an air brushed, anorexic female on the cover of SPORTS ILLUSTRATED. Simply put, a combination of Brad Pitt sprinkled with Steve Martin, splashes of Axel Rose, topped with my dad was no longer what I was looking for. Fortunately, Mister Man did not have expectations of me being a combination of Carmen Electra, Goldie Hawn with sparkles of Rachael Ray and hints of his…mother?

Yea! He loves me and I love him. Both of us constantly fighting fifteen hateful pounds, wisdom forging the new-found wrinkles, droopy, draggy parts and all. For the most part, this relationship is shaping up to be a pleasant, lovely experience.

However, the first time we hit a slight bump in the road, there was no doubt an elephant in the room. It was awkward and very uncomfortable. Because there was—literally—an elephant in the room. A large, ceramic pinkish, brownish, greyish elephant that Mister Man had prominently placed on the end table.

He was snacking on chips and salsa when I walked into the living room and saw it. My eyes got big as saucers and my jaw nearly dropped to the ground as I saw the unbearably tacky mammal gracing my coffee table. It looked like something my Great Grandma Elda would have picked out.

“Well, what do you think?”

Mister Man asked. I acted like I

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didn’t know what he was talking about and began putting the groceries away. It was not like him to randomly purchase home décor and I was praying he was not about to start now.

It was true that our home needed some sprucing up, as our items were an equal blend of his and mine, and we had not yet found a theme that was unified. It was also true that I had been making comments about wanting to redecorate and start from scratch. Apparently he was moved by the mammal and was inspired to contribute to the living room.

And it was so sweet, which is what put the figurative elephant in the room. How do you tell somebody that you love that the one item he selected with the very best of intentions happens to be the ugliest creature you have ever seen. I was torn.

Does one lie like a Persian rug and say, “Wow, Babe! Love the elephant! It is just awesome!” or be honest and say, “seriously, Babe? Are you out of your ever loving mind? That is the ugliest, tackiest thing that I have ever laid my eyes on!”

Fortunately, my phone rang. It was my best friend Bonnie. I walked out to the car to get more groceries. It was a perfect opportunity to get advice from Bon Bon about the situation.

“There is a flipping elephant in the room, Bonnie, and I don’t know what to do.” I explained to Bon the situation and she literally choked on her gum from laughter. After she got the gum dislodged from her throat she regained her composure.

“You need to tell him that you love it.

And it just so happens that you overheard his mother talking about wanting a cute little elephant for her living room. Explain that giving her the elephant would be the right thing to do.” Brilliant!

I walked back into the house and gave Mister Man the argument.

“Well, as a matter of fact,” he said…“the elephant is a gift from Mom. Babe, what are we going to do?

That is the ugliest thing I have ever laid my eyes on.”

Just as those words came out of his mouth the doorbell rang. “Hi Mom!” Mister Man and I both knew, that from now on when Mom came by, (as much as we adore her) there would always be an elephant in the room.

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What To Do

KEEPING THE FENCES MENDED

by Hallie Bandy

over

Motherboard

v

This time of year, I’m reminded of Robert Frost’s words: “Good fences make good neighbors.”

When you live in the country, you give up block parties and neighborhood bunko clubs. Kids don’t usually walk or ride a bike to each other’s homes. And there are days you see more wildlife than people. People who choose the country life like it that way. At least most of them.

When we moved to our first rural home, our new neighbor came over as we were moving in, introduced himself, promptly told us how much he liked mowing lawns and practically insisted he mow our lawn for the “rest of the season.” It was late fall, and we hadn’t given any thought to lawn mowing–and we didn’t give much thought to his kind offer, either. We just gratefully said, “Oh, thank you so much!”

As it happened, that was an epic El Nino year, and people were golfing until Christmas Eve in Northeast Ohio. Our grass kept growing, and our neighbor kept showing up weekly to do us yet another favor.

Which is why, when he informed us that he and his wife regularly took an extended vacation and needed someone to care for their cats for two months, I felt obliged to offer my services.

Sure I had an infant and a toddler, but cats are cats. I could certainly keep a bowl of food filled and fetch some fresh water. How hard could it be? After all, I wanted to be neighborly.

Little did I know that some cats require special diets. And other terms of care.

When I showed up for cat-duty, there was a three-page document of instructions, including a special recipe for each cat, to be prepared twice daily. Measuring cups and at least six ingredients were provided.

Don’t tell my neighbors, but I used a very liberal adaptation of the recipe. And the cats lived.

Which, in hindsight, wasn’t necessarily a good thing, since those neighbors took that two-month vacation every year.

It was deja vu all over again when we moved to our farmette. The previous owner hadn’t mowed for several weeks when we took occupancy, which posed a

problem since our tractor wasn’t scheduled to show up for another week. Right on time, our next-door neighbor showed up with his “lawn system” and offered to help us out. He said he didn’t have cats, and I breathed a sigh of relief.

Until he came over about a month later and asked if we’d watch his dog while he and his wife took an extended summer road trip. No problem. What are neighbors for?

We took care of the dog. The neighbors returned. And, true to the unspoken rules of country living, we only saw them when one of us needed something.

About a year after we moved in, there was a heavy overnight rain, and our normally quiet dog barked adamantly through the night. I checked repeatedly and saw nothing…until dawn, when I looked out to see one of the neighbor’s cows quietly grazing in the yard.

Apparently part of their fence had been damaged in the storm and the cow had decided to seek greener pastures. Or something like that.

I called my neighbor. “I know it’s early,” I apologized, “but I believe one of your cows is in our yard.”

Without hesitating, she replied, “Oh, just shush it on home.” It took a moment to take in what she had said, before I could reply, “Well, we’ve shushed, and she’s not moving.” “Oh, okay, someone will be down,” she replied, though she failed to say when that might be. So, I packed my kids into the car for school and headed off, with Bessie still grazing in our back yard.

I had a doctor appointment that morning and was gone for several hours. I had forgotten about the cow until I arrived home and found her, standing like a fixture in the driveway.

There I was, seven months pregnant, staring down a two-ton creature who had no intention of going anywhere.

I rolled down the window of my Volkswagon and “shushed” her. “Moooo,” she replied.

And that is when I, somewhat brilliantly I might say, decided to try herding her with the car. That’s right. I, a pregnant mother of three, herded the neighbor’s cow home with my VW. Our neighbor repaired the fence. We see them occasionally and wave. And, we mow our own lawn, thank you.

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What To Do

TOPS Staff Picks: Home & Garden Danielle Katherine

I love my Bulb Planter, with its clean cone, it quickly and easily readies the soil for planting my many flower bulbs . Won’t be long until I see my tulips popping up! Found at almost any Hardware or Garden Shop.

It’s always fun to create something from scratch and to save a little money! Koi Ponds are hard work, but a huge benefit when complete.

Do your research before starting (i.e. online or at local Koi Pond shops), then make your own little oasis with your two bare hands! Any DIY project is a fun time with good friends or a significant other.

Teri

I love this Wine Cork Wreath! It matches my personality: fun and unique. It’s made from all natural, recycled wine corks that have been arranged to look as if they are standing on edge; understated yet gorgeous! This would look fantastic in the dining room, an office, bar, even on a (protected) front door! I found it on esty.com for $70.

Amanda

Buffy

I adore the beauty of a butterfly. I was thrilled to discover this gorgeous butterfly wall hanging at Lexington’s own delightful shop Creation Inspirations! $49.99

Keith

An espresso machine that fits in any kitchen drawer? Yes please! Pressurized nitrous helps extract the espresso for a great-tasting shot that doesn’t require a ton of cleanup. Mypressi Twist, $149, mypressi.com

Melissa

Super Shovel! With sharp teeth forged of high-carbon steel, this is THE BEST tool to cut through compacted soil, roots and hard clay.

It also helps me pry up the many rocks in my yard.

Gardeners Supply Co. gardeners.com, $49.95

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One of my favorite conveniences is an Invisible Fence for our Great Dane.

Works great, and saves having to build a fence. Cost varies on the size of your yard.

Kristen

I don’t have a green thumb but enjoy little hints of nature throughout my home. Easy, compact, clean and available in many different sizes and shapes, terrariums are the perfect way to display plants, herbs and flowers.

I found this one at House for $65!

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What To Do

POSH PAWS

THE PET-FRIENDLY HOME RENOVATION

by Amanda Harper, Pet Aficionado

Doing some home remodeling this spring? You’re not alone! From simple home changes to major renovations, spring is the start of the home improvement season. You’ve probably got some sort of home project planned for the year, but have you planned what you’re going to do with your pet while it all happens?

Home renovations are stressful for pets. You will almost certainly be preoccupied while the work is happening, meaning some of your pets needs might accidentally go ignored. There will probably be chemicals and tools around that are dangerous for pets. Doors and gates will probably be left propped open, allowing plenty of opportunity for your pet to accidentally escape. Nevermind all the noise and strangers that your pet will encounter!

How can you work on your home without causing unnecessary stress on your pet?

If your home will be full of harmful fumes, dangerous terrain or will be undergoing a particularly intensive period of renovation, consider having your pet put up in a kennel or at a friend’s home.

This will eliminate the threat of danger to your pet and will allow you to put your full focus on the project at hand.

Your contractor will certainly be glad—having a pet barking or yowling all day is distracting and upsetting.

Will you be away while the work is carried out?

Make sure your pet is somewhere in the house that is far away from the work. Outfit the room with

lots of comforting items, such as the pet’s bed and favorite toys.

Let the contractors know exactly where your pet is being kept.

Ask the contractor whether they will be able to rescue your pet in the event of an emergency. Many contractors won’t promise this, and rightfully so—their priority is making sure they and their staff are safe first. And bear in mind that if your pet gets loose and bites a worker, you might be sued.

If you’ll be handling the project yourself or storing all the tools and chemicals involved in the project, make sure there’s no way your pet can come into contact with those items. A curious pet will often get themselves into trouble checking out the new stuff in the house. Many dangerous home chemicals smell and taste very interesting to pets, resulting in tragedy.

If there will be a lot of sanding and dust flying about, you’ll need to take special precautions for everyone’s health and wellness in your home. Change your central air system’s filter often. Consider taping an additional, anti-allergen filter over vents in areas where you or your pets will be staying. Clean air ducts and vents once the project is complete.

Prior to a major home renovation, ensure that your pet is outfitted with a new identification collar and microchip. This will greatly increase the chance of your pet being returned to you if he accidentally escapes. Also, take your pet to the vet before a renovation project to ensure that your pet isn’t ailing—the stress of a renovation can often aggravate a pre-existing illness. Following and during a renovation or home project, monitor your pet’s behavior. If something is different, take your pet to the vet.

Home remodeling can be a very stressful and confusing time for pets. Taking some extra precautions can alleviate some of the stress and allow you and your pet to enjoy the end result.

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What To Do

DESIGNER SECRETS:

REVEALED

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GO BIG: Ed Botkin has been working with homeowners for years and if there is one thing he has mastered—

it’s the art of accessorizing! He believes accessories are the finishing statement to any home interior. They add WOW factor to rooms, create conversation among friends and are a true reflection of the homeowner’s interests. But in today's home, with volume ceilings and open floor plans, accessories are often underestimated and under scaled.

Ed’s secret for success in accessorizing involves searching for appropriately sized items. Just because something ‘matches the rug’ doesn’t mean it fits the scale of the room. A two story foyer needs a five to six foot mirror hanging over the entry console table. This mirror may seem huge in the store, but it will appear much more appropriate when hung on the massive wall. Adding two lamps that are thirty-six to forty inches tall will make for a dramatic entry!

Likewise, most great rooms have at least one wall that is over twenty-five feet long. The obvious assumption would be to hang one long horizontal piece of art. But Ed argues that this simply reinforces the length of the wall. Instead, he suggests hanging two large vertical pieces side by side, adding height to the space and drawing your attention away from the length of the wall.

“You will be amazed how much better this wall space is filled,” Ed says.

Ed Botkin, Decorator Merit Furniture

The same is true for table surfaces. Cocktail tables or chests in rooms with high ceilings need tall, chunky accessories. Try a large set of candlesticks or finials. Occasional tables need larger lamps. Remember the top of your kitchen cabinets or armoires. Add a bird cage or lantern for additional height. Think BIG! Need another reason to go BIG? Ed admits that it actually saves money! You’ll spend far less time and money shopping for a few large pieces compared to a ton of small accessories. Can't afford all new accessories right now? Find some leather bound books and use them as risers. Small trunks or suitcases can work as well.

Give "BIG" a try. Ed promises you will be impressed by the results…and so will all the guests in your home!

FOCUS ON FUNCTIONALITY: When Derrick Whitaker is working on a kitchen design, his first consideration is always on how the space will be utilized by his client. A family with four children will have significantly different needs than a single person or a couple. In today’s world, a large part of our time is spent in the kitchen – the heart of the home. Our contemporary lifestyles dictate that we get maximum function from a minimum amount of space. Whether we are preparing meals for family and friends, helping the kids with their homework, or sipping a cup of coffee while watching the morning news, it is essential that the kitchen be a multifunctional space.

One of Derrick’s favorite features to include in a kitchen is a central work area for homework, computers, gaming, entertainment and activities the family enjoys together. It is essential that the Derrick Whitaker, space effectively accommodates family and Sr. Designer, Creative Kitchens & Bath friends. Modern technology is an important element in any modern space; the kitchen is no different. Contemporary kitchen spaces act as the hub of most homes and as such, must adapt to modern technological needs. Computer hubs, entertainment portals and the like are essential in any well planned kitchen. And since much of our time is spent in this area, it is paramount this space be the multifunctional hub of the home.

The essential element of good kitchen design, as with all design, is that the space be designed for the specific needs of the home dweller. “A home designed with six bedrooms for empty nesters would make little sense, as would a galley kitchen design for a family of seven,” Derrick explains. So his primary concern of any design is that it functions well for each particular family. However, regardless of the size of a family, Derrick finds that just about any homeowner sees the value of incorporating a work space into the kitchen!

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FIND YOUR COLOR: Sounds simple, right? Pick a color, slap it on the wall, upholster your favorite chair in it, and make a couple toss pillows for a great accent.

Right?

Color is tricky. It can take on one look in the daylight, another in the evening, and set yet another mood under the lights you use every day in your home. j. stuart hurt Interior Designer house by jsd designs

When j. stuart hurt visits a home for a design consultation, there are a few key questions he always asks. The one question he avoids asking is “What is your favorite color?”

“If the client could answer that question, there would be no need for my help!” stuart explains.

The colors of one’s wardrobe are very different from the colors on their walls. There may be some overlap in the preference, but the actual application is very different.

Instead of asking the obvious, stuart’s approach of looking at and speaking about things that are important to the client is something he advises all homeowners to do.

Photos on your wall, accessories displayed in your home, and even the color of the towels in your bedroom are all topics of conversation. “Color, for lack of a better explanation, lies within the homeowner, they just may not be seeing it because they are around it so much,” stuart says.

Stuart also suggests reflecting on a favorite vacation spot along with how you intend on using the space. Throughout his career, stuart has found that colors are “spoken” first, then “seen”, so uncovering these interests, preferences, and intentions are all part of the color selection process.

Simply put, the color on your wall should be a reflection of you.

Keeping that as the main focus during the color selection process has become a ‘must-do’ for stuart when working with clients on design projects.

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COMPLEMENT YOUR ARTWORK, NOT YOUR SPACE: As you walk down the streets of Paris, on the vacation of your dreams, you notice a street vendor, artist extraordinaire; you can’t Tonya Daugherty resist purchasing one of these Co-Owner Frames by James exquisite Parisian landscapes, one that will remind you of this incredible moment in your life each time you look at it.

Now that you are home, you can’t wait to display your new purchase. You take it to your local custom-framing store and along with the beautiful landscape you bring a wallpaper sample, one of your pillows from your couch and a paint chip from the room next to where this will hang.

STOP RIGHT THERE…Tonya, as someone who has framed thousands of keepsake pieces in her twenty years of experience, suggests the only thing you need to bring to the custom framer is your precious piece of artwork.

This is something that you will have with you for the rest of your life. You will re-upholster your couch, repaint the walls and change the wallpaper many times, but this special moment you have captured in this piece of artwork will be with you forever. Give it the attention it deserves. Now does that mean you have to spend a fortune in the framing, absolutely not. The beauty of custom framing is the choices. Frames, mats, specialty mat cuts, filets, glass types, mounting processes, the list goes on.

There is a price for every budget.

Custom framing is affordable and it allows you to frame it right the first time.

Remember, the number one rule of custom framing is to compliment what you are framing and it will compliment whatever space you decide to put it in.

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INVEST IN QUALITY:

Meghann van den Dool knows that choosing furniture for your home can be a daunting task. Often times buying furniture simply because it is discounted can lead to a disaster.

Meghann advises clients to take a less impulsive approach by taking the time to educate yourself about the quality. The point is to have something that will withstand the test of time, something that you won’t be replacing a few years down the road. With that said, Meghann shares a few considerations she keeps in mind when purchasing furniture:

Meghann van den Dool Interior Designer Adelé

• Check the construction of the frame. What is the frame made of and how long will it last? Structural elements of low-end pieces are typically glued, stapled or nailed together and eventually will come apart.

Mid to high-end pieces will have tight joints that fit together without gaps and the frames are glued and screwed. When considering upholstered pieces, unzip the cushions to make sure you know what is on the inside.

••Research the manufacturer and country of origin. Is it made cheaply abroad or domestically by a retailer you trust? American made furniture endures more quality control with safety regulations regarding construction.

••Well made drawers and doors should be even. Make sure they pull out smoothly with no scratching or jamming.

High quality does not always come cheap, and yes, there are plenty of cheap imitations that offer the same aesthetic, but they lack quality. It is always better to buy a few quality pieces of furniture that fit within your budget. Remember, filling your home just to have it finished is not the criteria. Invest in quality pieces of furniture that are well built and will last you for years to come. Not everything has to be finished at once.

Meghann’s favorite rooms are those that have been curated over time.

BLEND OLD WITH NEW: Sue Ann Truitt has been designing spaces for years. A strategy she

often embraces with her clients involves blending the old with the new. She explains that a mixologist can be more than a person who creates specialty drinks. In decorating, mixing takes place when new and old as well as formal and informal elements are blended together. Creating a room setting that is interesting and displays character takes a special touch. She suggests avoiding the staged look that appears in a furniture catalogue. Instead, take a personal approach to making your home different and unique. Achievphoto by Walt Roycraft ing this look may Sue Ann Truitt begin with an Interior Designer L.V. Harkness antique piece of furniture, an inherited treasure, or an unusual purchased item from a trip. The rest of the room can be built and designed around that focal point. For example, an antique sofa could be partnered with newly acquired club chairs. Carefully selected fabrics can become the common thread that ties these furniture pieces together. Add artwork, lamps, pillows, a throw, and an ottoman to achieve a warm and cozy feel for the room—a place which would encourage one to curl up and read the latest novel. These are the touches that transform a house into an interesting and unique home which reflects the people who live there.

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GO HIGH—GO WIDE:

GET OUTDOORS:

A cake without icing? No way. A new outfit with no jewelry? Absolutely not. Windows with no treatments?

Unacceptable.

With her company coming off a record year in terms of deck construction, Lora McBee, and her company, Quality Construction have proven themselves as experts in the consultation and design of outdoor living spaces.

Nancy Elam has been designing spaces for over 15 years. During this time, she has found that window treatments are one of the most Nancy Elam Interior Designer overlooked and misunderstood Design Link components of room design.

Draperies act as an essential accessory in a space, creating a softened, finished look that is key to binding the components of a room.

For many people, the word “drapery” conjures images of dark, heavy fabrics dripping with tassels and trimmings, blocking the light from your home. Due to the influences of companies like Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware and popular designers from HGTV, the trend in window fashion has changed drastically over the years. Today’s treatment style is cleaner and simpler, focusing on lighter, natural extiles like linens and silks. The misconception that decorative treatments must cover the window could not be further from the truth. Nancy uses a few key design ideas that not only leave windows exposed, but create the illusion of larger windows and taller ceilings. The first trick of the trade is to “go high”. Installing your draperies as close to the ceiling as possible will give the effect of a larger space. Secondly, “go wide”… by hanging drapery panels to the sides and not over the windows, light exposure is maximized and the window is widened visually.

Color. Stain your deck with a new color! With several hundred colors to choose from, you are sure to find one to suit your taste. If you have a patio that needs a facelift, consider covering it with tile or stone veneer.

There are no limitations in designing window treatments. The guiding principles are that they should accommodate your needs from both a practical and design perspective. Blending your personal style alongside the tips mentioned above will allow you to create a product and a space that is truly finished and completely satisfying.

Lighting. Tiki torches, rope lights, and candles certainly add a wonderful atmosphere for evening entertainment.

Nancy and the team of designers never veer from the philosophy that an individual’s home needs to be as much a reflection of their personal style as their most cherished piece of art or jewelry.

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Lora McBee

Design Consultant Here are some of the most Quality Construction important areas to consider when you want to turn your outdoor living space into a more functional and enjoyable addition to your -home.

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Patio Furniture. Don’t overwhelm the space with furniture that is too big. If you need more seating consider bench seating, it seats many and takes up very little space. If your area is covered Lora recommends colorful cushioned seats.

If it is exposed to the elements, add a colorful umbrella and chairs that will dry out quickly from rain.

Plant Life. Nothing livens up a space like flowers and plants. Use flowers or plants for a center piece on your table, in corners, and any other space that needs to be filled.

Fire Pits. These are awesome! Fire pits have become very popular as center pieces for decks and patios. Everyone is sure to love this addition to their outdoor living space.

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TABLES WITH STYLE—YOUR STYLE

by Sue Ann Truitt Etiquette Consultant

In tablescapes there are no rules. Our houses abound with tables: dining tables, coffee tables, sofa tables, bedside tables, end tables, etc. So many tables to display in your own personal style. Hopefully, these tabletops will change often to show your special collections.

Alexander Stoddard, a well known New York interior designer and author, says “Dust and move and dust and move;” hoping each time you dust that you change the top of the table. Maybe industrious, but it certainly emphasises the point that change is good. Change keeps your house interesting for your guests, your family and yourself.

Many people have special collections, but are at a loss as to what to do with them. There are many collections hiding in your cupboards that you may never have put together or even thought of as a collection. It could be items that are all blue and white, picture frames of different shapes and sizes, antique glasses which could hold a flower submerged down to the waterline, silver napkin rings, cups and saucers from different china patterns, wooden boxes, china plates, clocks, watches, old leather books, or coffee table books. Each of these suggestions can become a collection when taken from its place within a set and put together with other items of like kind. Such is the case with cups and saucers or plates. W hen displaying, arrange the selection together alternating heights by placing some on a stack of books while others are placed directly on the table top. Always add a touch of nature to soften a display such as a single bloom in

a bud vase or a small mound of moss on which one of your pieces might rest. In arranging a display, be aware when it is time to stop. An entire collection does not have to be displayed at the same time. Rotate!

Inviting guests for dinner conjures thoughts of how to decorate the dining table. This is an opportunity to stir your creativity. A table could be decorated to coordinate with a menu, such as a Chinese New Year Dinner or a holiday event like an Easter Brunch. W hen there is a theme, the ideas blossom. Do create a tablescape that is out of the ordinary and not predictable.

A recent trip could be the inspiration for a most interestingly decorated table and spur a topic of dinner conversation as well.

To go against the norm, try alternating two patterns on the table.

For example, select presentation plates in contrasting colors— navy and rust. Then set them alternately at each person’s place while maintaining a single china pattern. Other elements that could be changed might be placemats, napkins or china patterns.

Choose one to alternate with a compatible pattern while keeping the other elements in a single pattern. Be careful to keep this plan simple to avoid a jumbled effect.

Let the drama of your combinations inspire the tablescape.

Celebrate the special things in your collections by displaying them in your home for your family and friends to enjoy.

© Kathy Martin

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TOP DESIGN

© 2012 Meredith Corporation

DIY — FRESH IDEAS FOR SPRING

by Melissa Meatyard Budget Decorator

Here are a few suggestions that aren’t the same old “paint the walls a new color” or “get different accent pillows.”

One of my favorite ways to change up my artwork is to buy some inexpensive, yet tasteful frames and go to a used bookstore to find a beautiful photography book on a subject I love. Although I have always felt it a crime to desecrate books, these photos will be enjoyed much more on my walls than on my coffee table.

Nature is my all-time favorite; I am continuously amazed at the complexity and beauty it provides. For spring, I have already purchased a book with spectacular photos of flower blooms.

I will freshen up the room by exchanging the beautiful photos of green plants I currently have with these colorful blooms.

Similarly, you could use a calendar; they come in so many varieties.

Another idea for artwork is to purchase some carved ceiling rosettes from the home improvement store. Choose different styles and sizes, paint them in graduated shades of your favorite spring color and hang them in a grouping. Take care to use the right paint for the material the rosettes are made of by asking one of the friendly clerks nearby for advice.

My office at TOPS, which I will have freshened up for Spring by the time you read this (hopefully).

People make their own headboards all the time and it can be done quite inexpensively. One idea to freshen it up is to get some peel-and-stick decals or wallpaper decals, put some on your headboard and then carry the design up onto the wall. It’s a really interesting idea that I haven’t seen done very often.

© 2012 Meredith Corporation

Spring in Kentucky can mean anything weather-wise; as we all know. When I’m stuck inside during a March ice storm (or whatever Mother Nature throws our way) I enjoy changing things up now and again—but my decorating budget is tight, so I have to get creative.

A fun project for the bathroom is to get a mirror with a flat frame, find some bright fabric or photos and découpage the frame.

Découpage is easy; just Google™ it for directions.

After a few top coats of clear polyurethane, your mirror can handle any steam and water that comes its way.

For any room—or every room—a fresh idea (literally) is to use a clear vase and, along with your spring daffodils or even a bouquet you pick up at the grocery; add some kumquats, key limes or even cherry tomatoes in the water!

Use your imagination for that extra pop of color to add spring to your home.

© 2012 Meredith Corporation

I love to reflect natural light around the room and mirrors are a great way to accomplish this (they’re not just for looking at your gorgeous reflection). Visit a discount home store and look for a mirrored art piece to hang on the wall and/or a vase made of reflective mosaics that will cast light patterns on the wall when the sun is out. Even hanging a carved crystal or beveled glass piece in a window will cast beautiful rainbows on the wall when the sun hits it.

Whatever you do, make it fun, fresh and something that will make you smile after a dreary winter.

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Chevy Chase Cottage

by Amanda Harper Shaun Ring Photography

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The designer and owner of this pre-World War II cottage in Chevy Chase is originally from California. She says that homes there are more expansive, capitalizing greatly on the West Coast’s sunny days, and that’s something she wanted to bring to this home while she and her husband were renovating.

The cottage was built in 1929 and in its original state when it was purchased two and a half years ago. The family prior had been living in the cozy home for over 50 years, and the new owners made a conscious decision to honor the home’s history and time period while still incorporating their love of light. The home is now for sale, ready to offer its unique coziness to a new family.

To achieve an exceptional volume of light within the home, the owners had many more windows installed in the cottage, sometimes sacrificing wall space in favor of more light. The home boasts 9 and 10 foot ceilings. Rather than following traditional design and dropping the windows, the owners chose to run the windows as high as they could in each room. This allows light to enter more naturally and uninhibited, allowing light to reach further into the rooms.

The original living room boasts a cozy fireplace and sitting area perfect for conversation. The owners like to think of the pre-WWII era when working on a home, when the whole family might gather around the family radio to get the news. That intimacy and

emphasis on family is evident in the conversation spaces created within the cottage, which is located on Ridgeway Road.

The dining room sits off the living room. The owners created a bay in the dining room to retain the space, but make it feel larger. The moulding is matched to the oversized moulding original to the house. The 7 inch tall clean-lined crown reflects the transitional style found throughout the home. Trim and built-ins were done

by Jason and Jamie Black of the The Black Brothers Construction.

Off the dining room to the right is the home’s original living room and fireplace. To the left, the doorway opens into the butler’s pantry, which faces the mudroom. The mudroom is actually the home’s original kitchen, which has a door access to the side driveway, allowing the owners to unpack groceries directly into the kitchen area. The owners found it so remarkable that the family raised five boys while cooking with such a small kitchen that they decided to preserve this space in its original size.

The owner designed and drafted the working blueprints by hand, from which the Gdovka Brothers of GBG Building worked. All design and management of the project was personally managed by the couple.. She researched Consumer Reports heavily to find the best products on the market for name recognition, performance and value. She found that Lowe’s worked hard for her business and special ordered the appliances.

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The great room serves as the center of entertaining in the home. Open doorways allow guests to be connected to all areas of activity at once. The owners had the stairs rebuilt to be wider and more efficient. A step-down helps divide the space while preserving the sense of expansiveness of the great room.

Built-in shelving in the family room area help distribute the visual weight evenly in the space.

The owners love to create spaces that accommodate family life. To this end, they built a small office area within the kitchen. The desk sits beneath a window that looks out onto the home’s yard, allowing a parent to work while watching the children play outside.

The owner says she loves to work with a color palette featuring chocolate and vanilla tones in the kitchen area, which she says creates a dressiness while maintaining the appearance of a working kitchen. Stainless steel Electrolux appliances offer a modern appearance while reflecting light. The glass range hood allows light to pass through, further increasing the natural brightness in the space. The sink has grooves built in to accommodate a number of interchangable accessories, like cutting boards and trays. This keeps the countertops from being contaminated during prep, offering a multitude of unique functionalities.

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to provide two people with complete vanity areas with all the amenitites. The irredescent glass tile, from Jeffrey Court, reflects light in the space. The marble flooring is heated, making this bathroom truly luxurious and comfortable.

For the owners, this home reflects a transitional style, with touches of their own eclectic taste. By keeping set goals in mind—creating a bright, open family space while preserving this cottage’s history—the owners were able to create a home that is unique and full of light.

The kitchen cabinetry, created by Mark English of Masterpiece Kitchens, is solid wood and features straight lines. The doors offer a little more definition in the space.

The small glass surrounding the tile of the kitchen backsplash was a gamble that paid off, providing textural contrast. The owner worked with Mees Tile to create the beautiful backsplash feature.

The informal table in the kitchen was chosen to allow for the kitchen to serve as a conversation space. Rather than having guests sit in a line, they surround the island, allowing a host to converse with guests during a party, or a family to spend time together while cooking.

The home’s bathrooms were another labor of love for the owner. Visually stunning fixtures by Kohler offer a modern touch in the traditional bathrooms. The bright and airy master bathroom was designed to hearken to the calm and serenity of a spa. Symmetry played a huge part in the design. The Kohler tub, with modern lines that juxtapose the Victorian crystal chandelier and wall sconces, sits directly in the middle of the room. The space was created

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A Stunning Dream Home

by Amanda Harper Shaun Ring Photography

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This house was a lofty dream that its now-owners thought could never be a reality.

Seven years ago, the owner and his wife began to see and admire this home as it was built and furnished by its builder. When he and his wife finally got to tour it, they got lost inside the expansive house! They discovered that it was going to be put up for auction, and he decided to watch the sale as a spectator. He knew that the price was out of their budget, but thought going would be interesting. Twenty minutes later, he had bought the house! He managed to work out a stellar price and knew that it was meant to be. When he went home to his wife, and a huge smile spread across his face, she knew that their dream had come true.

The house wasn’t fully complete when the owner purchased it. This meant that they had a few things to finish. The owner also chose to make some additions inside the home to create some unique spaces within the home for their own enjoyment. Some details, such as the paint, trim and incredible front door were already in place, so this gave the owner a framework of design to work within as he proceeded with the changes he wanted to make.

Foremost in the owner’s mind was creating an interior that felt cozy rather than sterile and cavernous. To achieve a homey feel, rich colors and plush fabrics are used to make large spaces feel more intimate and warm. Personal touches everywhere offer a little personality to each room, further creating a home within this expansive property.

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The family also enjoys entertaining. They installed a pool and outdoor kitchen, which serves as a congregation space for parties in the summer. The interior offers abundant seating and entertaining space for guests, which has allowed them to host up to 130 people.

The kitchen cabinetry was done by Danny Castle of Castle Cabinetry. It features dark and light zebra wood, featuring very modern lines and frosted glass doors. The stainless steel Viking appliances include 2 dishwashers, resting on either side of the sink, dual ovens, an oversized refrigerator and an inset microwave. The island features a sink and prepping area, as well as a seating for guests.

The owner built a library in an alcove of the home. This unique feature offers a wonderful touch of personality. The owner also added walk-in closets and an upstairs media room featuring a 120” screen for watching movies, football and UK games.

The house includes a bar area featuring a wine cooler.

The lighting and chairs match the kitchen’s island. The cabinetry carries over the kitchen’s modern motif, as well.

This nook provides an intimate space for entertaining with tons of amentities for hosting informal parties.

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The master bedroom features a flat panel TV and gas fireplace. Stonework offers a unique textural contrast that provides an extra dimension of warm and visual interest. The room’s moulding helps create the appearance of a lower ceiling, making the space seem smaller and more cozy. There is an adjacent sitting area, creating a master suite in this gorgeous space.

The master bathroom features a unique round shape, which makes the space feel special in the angular home. The bathroom, too, features a flat panel television and gas fireplace for convenience and coziness. Beautiful tile in rich tones pairs with the warm woods to create a very luxurious bathroom that is both elegant and inviting.

This residence is a “smart home”, with a fully-integrated technology system that simplifies day-to-day life. Cooper Stofer of LAVA Systems integrated this technology into the home, empowering its owners to use remote controls to choose music from several sources , view any of the HD satellite boxes, or access cloud content through an Apple TV®. Additionally, the owner can control any electronic system in the house using his iPhone®, whether he’s home or anywhere in the world.

There are also a number of “scenes’ that allow the owner to affect a number of controls with one touch. For example, pressing the “goodnight” button handles the evening routine, including; turning off the lights, adjusting the temperature, arming the alarm, closing the garage doors, and conserving energy by turning off the pool pump and fountain. The owner says that if he had it all to do over again, he wouldn’t have a second thought about having this amazing technology put in his home and goes on to say it should be a standard amenity in any house of this scale.

The unique features of this dream home make its owner eager to come home. He says he loves every room in this home, located just seconds away from Champion Trace Golf Course.

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What’s New

Dr. Susan Neil is pleased to announce that she is the first doctor in the state of Kentucky to offer Liposonix®. Liposonix® is a nonsurgical procedure that permanently destroys targeted fat below

the skin, and is FDA approved for reducing waist circumference, on average reducing an inch of fat in one treatment. This procedure is a wonderful option for people who are close to their ideal size and weight, who need help with one specific area in the waistline that exercise and diet simply isn’t correcting.

A Liposonix® procedure typically takes 30-60 minutes. Liposonix® utilizes high-intensity focused ultrasound energy that penetrates the skin layers without harming the skin or surrounding tissues, resulting in a more contoured waistline. Results are seen within 8-12 weeks. The average waistline reduction is one inch--about a pant size or dress size.

To inquire about Liposonix®, or to learn more about the other procedures that Dr. Susan Neil and her staff can offer, call today.

NEW BUSINESSES

D

r. Susan Neil practices cosmetic and family medicine in Lexington, specializing in minimally invasive procedures such as laser and light treatments, fillers and BOTOX® Cosmetic. As a Fellow of The American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery as well as the American Academy of Family Physicians, Dr. Susan Neil has extensive experience and a wonderful rapport with her clientele.

Dr. Susan Neil 2101 Nicholasville Rd, Ste 206 859.278.6345 susanneilmd.com

T

he former owners of the much loved restaurant, Friends and Co., are bringing back some of Lexington’s favorite dishes in their new restaurant, The Secret Bar and Grill. It has been 11 years since Kim and Jeff Bullock have been in the restaurant business and they are excited to be back!

They are serving the excellent food that everyone remembers like their famous hot brown and amazing cream pies. The newest feature to the menu is fresh, southern calabash seafood straight from North Carolina. The Bullocks are sure that every guest will be coming back for more! Their menu includes a variety of soups and sandwiches, like fresh tilapia, oyster Po’ Boy, French Dip, Reuben and delicious chili.

guests can enjoy live music from some of Lexington’s up and coming artists. Everyone is welcome to head to The Secret Bar and Grill to watch their favorite teams on one of the many flat screen TVs while enjoying their hot pimento cheese dip, wings or loaded tater tots. The Secret Bar and Grill also offers a cozy lounge area filled with couches, TVs and a warm fireplace.

The owners invite everyone to let this little secret slip... The Secret is one they hope everyone will share.

The Secret Bar and Grill is open for lunch and dinner, with daily Happy Hour specials from 3-6pm. On the weekends,

The Secret Bar & Grill 841 Lane Allen Rd 859.317.8673 facebook.com/SecretBarandGrill

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Top Events

LeAnn Jenkins and Jamie Karolich

Kellie Stoddart

Kathy Plomin, Elaine Quave, Teresa & Ike Lawrence

Jessie Pennington and Jordan English

Turner West and Yajaira Aich

Carter & Tash Suter

Andrea & Brad Ooten

LASC presents the 2012 H’Artful of Fun: Rebel with a Cause Rebel With A Cause, the Living Arts & Science Center’s 22nd annual H’Artful of Fun, supports the LASC’s educational programs such as classes, exhibits, and educational field trips. Over 40,000 Central Kentuckians, in 23 counties, are served through the LASC’s programs. The event featured local chefs and their themed desserts, as well as bourbon and wine tastings, live music, and auctions that included over 150 original works of art.

LASCLex.org Photos by Paul Atkinson

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Top Events

Maleah Danner and Kerry Glass

Sandra Savage and Joe Sturdivant

Daniel Griffin and Tim Savage

Matt & Hannah Hoverter

Tommy Sikes and Mallory Gore

Sara Gilliam, Becca Renaud, Jennifer Grammer, Hannah Hoverter, Leah Murphy, Shallen Crooper, Sarah Hall Webb, Elizabeth Skees and Michelle Myers

Nikki Burdine and Sarah Hall Webb

Heather Banks and Chad Banks

The BeLoved Gala A night of building hope for sex trafficking survivors. BeLoved Ministries INC is a Christ centered, non-profit organization in Lexington KY dedicated to awareness, outreach and aftercare of those affected by commercial sex exploitation. This includes outreach to high-risk populations, and the development of a home where underage survivors of trafficking can find hope and healing.

UAreBeloved.com Photos by Paul Atkinson

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Top Events

Don Harris, Tracy Hilander and Merrill Murray

Carol & Keith Bartz and Amy Dix Rock

Lionel Ferreira, Laurel Nelson, Georgia Ferreira, Judy McNeish and Melinda Moore

Arabella Wines

Kim Skipton and Fred Sarver

John Nicholson, Tolley Graves and Nic de Wet

Owen & Mike Weaver, Richard Shadwick and Elisabeth Goth

American Saddlebred Museum Celebrates 50th Anniversary On Friday evening February 17th, the ASB Museum welcomed 300 guests to celebrate its 50th anniversary at the Showplace for Saddlebreds in the Kentucky Horse Park. On display was the Museum’s 2012 exhibit, “Where Were You in ’62? Saddlebreds, the Museum & the Sixties,” featuring Saddlebred horses, memorabilia and pop culture artifacts from the sixties. The exhibit runs thru January 2013. asbmuseum.org Photos by Judy and Brian Myers

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Top Events

CastleCarnival Mardi Gras Masquerade Party For the first time in the Lexington/Versailles area, the NBC Pre-Super Bowl Party Band, the Louisville Crashers, crashed the party with their high energy, keep-you-dancing-all-night style.

The evening also featured special musical performances by Big Head Mike and Minions and up and coming country music star Corey Kenton. CastleCarnival also featured a dance performance by the Elite Dancers, Bourbon tastings, Cajun inspired food and prizes for best costume/mask. thecastlepost.com Photos by Karen and Eddie Boden

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Top Events

Shoko Konuma and Ms. Kentucky Cherry Blossom Sierra Enlow

David Carpenter and Mariko Shimada

Osamu and Hisami Ushio

Justin & Christina Williams, Jenny Bui and John Shutt

David and Bonnie Adkisson

Consul General Sato, Ambassador Fujisaki and Jody Shoup

Governor Collins, Dr. Collins and Ying Juan Rogers

25th Anniversary 2012 Shinnenkai Japanese New Year In 1912, a gift of 3,000 cherry blossom trees was bestowed on Washington, DC by Tokyo, Japan In honor of the strong friendship between The U.S. and Japan, His Excellency, Ichiro Fujisaki, Ambassador of Japan awarded offsprings from the original cherry blossom trees to honor the 25th anniversary of the Japan/America Society of Kentucky at its annual New Year Celebration. jask.org Photos by Alex Orlov

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Top Events

Sports Broadcasting Lifetime Achievement Recipient Tom Hammond with Mike Battaglia

Mark Simendinger and Joe B. Hall

Linda Cranfill, Brigid Devries, Barb & David Shropshire, Ned Benson, Gary Ball, Mary Benson and Bob Cranfill

Pat & Jim Host and Terry Johnson

Mary Jo Perino

Rick Ford and Bill Collins

Larry Conley and Dave Baker

The Bluegrass Sports Awards Presented by Alltech The inaugural Bluegrass Sports Awards, presented by Alltech, were held February 15 at the Griffin Gate Marriott Resort & Spa in Lexington. Celebrating the achievements and contributions of Kentucky sports, the honorees were Tom Hammond, Jim Host, former Governor Martha Layne Collins, Jerry Carroll and Kenneth Faried. More than 450 people attended the event which was put on by the Bluegrass Sports Commission. ihigh.com/bluegrasssports Photos by Dr. Michael Huang

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Top Events

Barbara Hinkle

Kimberly Van Camp, Vitale Buford and Warren Rogers

Tom Martin, Alan Stein, Connie Jo Miller, Jimmie Morgan, Anne-Tyler Morgan, Kevin Atkins, Beverly Fortune and Councilmember Steve Kay

Gerald Marvel, Jana McGuire and John Long

Becky Reinhold, Maestro Scott Terrell and April Howard

Bill Nichols and Stephanie Harris

Sarah Bosso Piester and Andy Shea

LexArts Fund for the Arts Campaign Kick-off

LexArts, the local arts council and united arts fund, launched it’s $1.1 Million dollar Fund for the Arts annual campaign. More than 150 attendees and a slew of business and community leaders were in attendance to kick off the campaign. Live arts experiences were part of the morning with special performances by members of the Central Kentucky Youth Orchestra and a live portrait painting display by artist, Madeline Enochs-Epley for her “500 Faces, 500 Hours” community art project. lexarts.org Photos by Alex Orlov

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What To Do

WEDDINGS “YAY – I’m engaged! IT’s Time for wedding plans, but I don’t know anything about flowers!”

by Doug Smith Floral Designer

Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials! Your wedding will be great!

When brides meet with a floral designer about their wedding flowers, most of them have already chosen the wedding party attire and secured the ceremony and reception venues. It makes sense to wait to talk to the floral designer until these aspects of your wedding have been decided upon—they need this critical information to design the florals.

How can you help the floral designer give you the design of your dreams?

Knowing your budget for the flowers is one of the most important pieces of information to pass along to your floral designer.

Most designers begin with this figure in their consultations with the brides. Others like to get the bride’s full vision and “wish list” for her wedding flowers. Then they work on the “numbers” to finalize the full package. Either way, you should have an idea of how much money you intend on spending, as the cost of flowers can vary drastically.

As important as the reception and attire are for your wedding, don’t allocate a chunk of your budget to those aspects and leave too little for the floral decor. If flowers are important enough to you to complete your vision for your wedding, then make sure you keep enough of your budget unallocated to be used until you talk to your floral designer. How much is enough? That is not an easy question to answer. One suggestion is to have a conversation with the floral designer to get a general idea of their pricing prior to signing any contracts with other wedding vendors.

Some brides use a wedding planning application or calculator they find on various wedding planning web sites that give guidance on how much to spend on each component of their wedding. This can be altered, of course, depending on what parts of your wedding are most important. If flowers are instrumental in making your wedding vision come true, make sure you allocate additional funds to that category.

Enough about money...let’s talk flowers!

One of the major concerns among brides is whether the flowers of her choice are going to be available during her wedding month.

Back in the day, sourcing certain flowers “out of season” was a difficult task. Well, you can relax. Now, thanks to our friends down in South America, most flowers are available every day of the year.

Of course there are exceptions, especially with the spring bulb varieties. Otherwise, you should have a nice, wide selection of flowers from which to choose for your wedding.

Many brides choose to go with a color scheme that matches the season. Fall is the season when this is most noticeable. Fall colors of orange, yellow, red mixed with purple and even pink make for a wonderful display that is very pleasing to the eye. December weddings command the color red and for spring weddings, the wonderful array of pastel bulb flowers that are easily obtainable at that time, are just the cure for the monochromatic hues of winter.

Bottom line, it’s your day and if you want a certain color scheme that doesn’t necessarily follow the season colors, that’s fine.

Remember, it’s your day!

As you go forward with the plans for your wedding, enjoy the experience! It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and there is no right or wrong way of doing it!

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tend the Keeneland races, held the rehearsal dinner at Dudley’s Restaurant and arranged for a bourbon tasting.

Elizabeth infused the wedding weekend with details that expressed the heart of Kentucky.

October 15, 2011

Elizabeth & Stephen Kirsch

WOW Wedding

Who’s Who

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After months of planning, the wedding day finally arrived. GlenLary had been fully transformed into a magical place where fairy tales really do come true. Rows of white chairs lined the manicured front lawn and with a beautiful blue Kentucky sky above and a vista of black fence bordered paddocks all around, the ceremony site was set. As Elizabeth emerged from the front of the family mansion on the arm of her father, she became a bride walking down her very own yellow brick road to join her gallant groom. They exchanged vows and sealed it with a kiss amidst the happy tears and smiles of family and friends.

The reception followed under a crisp white tent which glowed against the night sky. Guests were served an array of traditional Southern delicacies.

A colorful sweets table was filled with gourmet cupcakes, mini milk and cookies, tiramisu, and fresh fruit tarts.

A luscious three-tiered wedding cake was draped in orchids and hydrangeas and accented with personalized bulldog and Labrador cake toppers, as a tribute to their precious pets.

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lizabeth knew from the first time she set foot on the grounds of GlenLary that it would be the only place in the world that she would ever want to be married. After attending a magical Michael Buble concert, Stephen surprised her with a proper, down on one knee proposal, surrounded by roses and their favorite champagne. A self-proclaimed “hopeless romantic”, Elizabeth shared her idea with her fiancé, and both agreed that her family’s circa 1800s estate would become the backdrop for their fairy tale wedding.

As a corporate event planner, Elizabeth knew what needed to be done to treat her guests, who would be travelling to Kentucky from Miami, New York, New Jersey and California, to a true Southern experience. She planned the wedding for October so guests could at-

Elizabeth and Stephen also wanted to make sure their guests had a great time. Elizabeth knew from her professional experience that nothing could energize a crowd faster than a live band. She and Stephen brought in one of the country’s premiere wedding bands, Simply Irresistible, to provide the evening’s entertainment and keep everyone on the dance floor way into the night.

All the special touches that made the weekend truly magical came from the heart of a hopeless romantic turned bride, who dreamed of a fairy tale wedding. Now with her groom, they have embarked on their very own “happily ever after.”

by Michele Landers Photography by Melanie Mauer

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Details: Photographer: Melanie Mauer Day-of Coordinator: Always Planned Venue: GlenLary Estate (family home) Dress: Oscar de la Renta Belt: Carolina Herrera Shoes: Stuart Weitzmann Florist: Crist Creona Designs Cake: Martine’s Rentals: Purdon’s Catering: DaRae & Friends Cinematography: Portal Films Hair & Makeup: Tara Ferrell Band: Simply Irresistible Hair Piece: Alisa Brides Cake Topper: Mudcards Paper: Cheryl Humphreys Design: Joe Richardson of Hubbuch & Co.

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Who’s Who

Heather Michele (Bryarly) & Daniel Douglas White October 8, 2011 Stephanie Carson Photography

Wedding Announcements

Dr. Kimberly (Stephenson) & Michael Triplett April 9, 2011 David Blair Photography

Heather (McCoy) & Rock Daniels April 22, 2011 Tim Will Photography

Candace (Bramley) & Danny Hardesty November 11, 2011 Schmidt Studio & Gallery

Want to see your wedding photo published in TOPS? Email kristen@topsmarketing.com for more information.

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O TSHOTSP Dickie V getting initiated into the eRUPPtion Zone!

Check out Anthony Davis on the cover of the latest Lexscene!

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Leigh Ann Tuohy (played by Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side) and Julie Klier

She Heard it Through the Grapevine!

American Idol’s Lauren Mink with Marty Frazer, and Rick & Leslie Mink