Central Virginia HOME Magazine / Early Spring 2015

HOME CENTRAL VIRGINIA

DESIGN

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IMPROVE

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GARDEN

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Kitchen Islands new looks, new functions DECORATIVE WOOD PANELING

COLOR OF THE YEAR

IS THERE JUST ONE?

DREAM POOL

MAKE PLANS NOW

INTERACTIVE CONTENT INSIDE

EARLY SPRING 2015, vol. 9, No. 1

PERIODONTAL DISEASE IS OFTEN SILENT, meaning symptoms may not appear until an advanced stage of the disease has occurred. There are warning signs of a problem that can include: • Red, tender gums or other pain in the mouth • Loose or separating teeth • Signs of infection • Sores in the mouth • Persistent bad breath • A change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite • Your partial dentures don’t fit as well

WHO ARE PERIODONTISTS?

Periodontists are dentists specially trained in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of gum disease. If gum disease develops, consulting a periodontist is an effective way to determine the best course of treatment.

A MOUTH-BODY CONNECTION:

Periodontal disease is linked to other serious health risks such as: Heart Disease • Osteoporosis • Stroke • Diabetes

Experience Life Refreshed.

Grow A Garden Of Love Come to Westminster Canterbury and hold hands and hearts forever. Replace chores and checklists with what really matters in life—your family and friends.

Discover life anew with a swim in our indoor heated saltwater pool, a walk down our Nature Trail, fitness classes in our Wellness Center and lifelong learning opportunities at WC University.

Westminster Canterbury means peace of mind—for you, for your family. We offer maintenance free living, 24-hour security, a financial safety net and a LifeCare program that’s nationally recognized by the Continuing Care Accreditation Commission.

Your garden is blooming. Experience Life Refreshed.

Start planning your future and experience Life Refreshed.

Call Laura Hunter to schedule a tour, (434) 386-3305 • (800) 962-3520

A LifeCare Retirement Community 501 V.E.S. Road, Lynchburg, VA 24503 www.wclynchburg.org

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Understand the Symptoms of Congestive Heart Failure.

Centra cardiologist Dr. Stephen Rennyson and Abby Newton, RN, offer everyday tools to reduce symptoms of congestive heart failure.

Congestive heart failure, or CHF, is a condition that affects nearly 6 million Americans. Heart failure does not mean that the heart has stopped working, however, it means that the heart’s pumping power is weaker than normal.

Symptoms for CHF include: • Shortness of breath at rest or with exertion • The need to sleep in a chair due to worsening shortness of breath • Fatigue • Swelling in feet/ankles/legs/stomach • Trouble breathing at night The Centra Congestive Heart Failure Center provides patients with several tools to keep them healthy with reduced symptoms. From daily weight and blood pressure tracking to nutritional counseling and expertise, we’re here to help.

Consult your physician if you experience any of the above symptoms.

for more information:

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n P U B L I S H E R ’ s note Individual commitment to a group effort - that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.

-Vince Lombardi

This quote rings so true for HOME magazine, and seems appropriate with all the college football I’ve been watching over the past month. HOME magazine is certainly a team effort, a team I’m proud to be a part of and thankful for each day. Our advertising sales team—Janet Lampman, Lyn Marie Figel, Anne Marie Poore, Pam Whorley, Liz Houhoulis and Susan Creasy—does a great job connecting local businesses with our readers. On the editorial side, Laurel Feinman dreams up content that’s relevant to area homeowners, and manages a group of regular contributors we’re lucky to have—talented writers and photographers with different styles that complement each other. Meridith Ingram, the consummate wordsmith, puts the finishing touches on our articles, making sure our readers get the most out of our pages. It’s Trisha Roth who makes the pages of HOME beautiful, and has the creative ability to put together even the most challenging pieces of the puzzle. And Beth Moore, who assists in keeping me and everybody else straight on the many details that go into producing HOME. I’m very proud of the HOME team—they are first class.

— JULIE PIERCE, PUBLISHER

HOME CENTRAL

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Volume 9 I ssue 1 PUBLISHER

Julie Pierce MANAGING EDITOR

Laurel Feinman EDITOR

Meridith Ingram ART DIRECTOR

Trisha Roth CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Mitzi Bible Becky Calvert Lucy Cook Laurel Feinman Kim Fox Alyssa Mercadante Noelle Milam Cory Morgan Rory Rhodes Jessie Thompson GRAPHIC ARTISTS

Tiffany Allen Edwana Coleman Helga Kaszewski PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

julie@westwillowpublishing.com

Beth Moore PHOTOGRAPHERS

Helping Local

Businesses

Grow

“Select Bank understood my growing construction business and provided local, customized banking solutions.”

Chris Mowry, President, Long Meadows inC.

KG Thienemann Mark Thompson ADVERTISING SALES

Lyn Marie Figel Liz Houhoulis Janet Lampman Julie Pierce SUBSCRIPTIONS

Central Virginia HOME is published quarterly by West Willow Publishing Group, LLC. For an annual subscription, please send $20 and your name, address and telephone number to: Central Virginia HOME 3831 Old Forest Road Lynchburg, VA 24501 For advertising information please call (434) 386-5667 or sales@cvhomemagazine.com.

To discuss coverage of an event relating to home or garden, please contact Central Virginia HOME at info@cvhomemagazine.com.

Call Mike Forren, SVP Commercial Lending, for a loan that meets your specific needs.

434.455.1700 www.myselectbank.com 7113 Timberlake Road, Lynchburg • 211 Gristmill Drive, Forest • Subject to credit approval • Member FDIC

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West Willow Publishing Group, LLC (434) 386-5667 westwillowpublishing.com Copyright 2015 by West Willow Publishing Group, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from West Willow Publishing Group, LLC. All pictorial material reproduced in this magazine, whether in a produced ad or by itself, has been accepted on the condition that it is with the knowledge and prior consent of the photographer or the artist concerned.

As such, West Willow Publishing Group, LLC is not responsible for any infringement of copyright or otherwise arising out of publication thereof. The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. However, West Willow Publishing Group, LLC makes no warrant to the accuracy or reliability of this information. Opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of ownership or management.

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n editor ’ s note Is it “late winter” or “early spring?”

Whatever you call it, it’s the perfect time of year perk up your home!

The articles in this magazine will help you look at your house in a new, creative light to search for those opportunities.

One of the best ways to energize a room is to rearrange the room’s focal point. We’ve broken down the steps and given you a formula to makeover your mantel, an easy done-in-a-day decorating project.

No mantel? No problem! The same formula will work in other spots, too.

Though small, but mighty—the coat closet is one little space where you have big expectations! A professional closet designer can help you maximize the storage power and functionality of your hallway closet, wrangling your gear and keeping everything in order.

Another place where a fresh addition can make a big difference lies just beneath your feet. A new area rug can completely change the vibe of the room. We’ve asked a few local designers to share their wisdom so you can make informed decisions about how to shop for one.

You can completely change your surroundings by changing your perspective. Check out our story about wood paneling and take note of all the different ways people are adding traditional wood paneling to their walls…with a twist!

Speaking of fresh outlooks, the two homes we feature in this edition do just that. One is the home of a young family who has built a home with child-focused details at the forefront. The other is the home of a couple that has adapted their home to accommodate the special needs they might face as they grow older. Both of these have the same thing in common: a love for living stylishly at home.

Maybe you’re ready for a bigger project! This could be the year to update your kitchen or install that backyard pool you’ve always dreamed about. We’ve asked several local experts to explain the latest trends in kitchens and tell us what we need to know before “diving into” a backyard pool installation.

This year, make a resolution to try something new in your home. Move furniture around, try a different lampshade, add touches of your favorite color—whatever you can think of that puts the “you” into “your home.” By ensuring that your home is functional in a way that suits your needs and decorated in a way that’s an expression of who you are, you’re certain to be pleased with those improvements every day.

—LAUREL FEINMAN, managing EDITOR laurel@westwillowpublishing.com

“Bert did an awesome job on a very difficult project – this is the 2nd home he has built for us!

We are extremely pleased with all the quality workmanship and materials.” ~Karen and Reggie Berry

Building Quality Structures and Strong Relationships in Central Virginia Since 1979

www.SidneyAllenBuilder.com • (434) 525-5129

Builder of Fine Homes, Commercial Projects, Churches and Church Additions Outstanding Customer Service and Attention to Detail | Our Select Team of Craftsmen are Experienced, Dependable and Reliable c vhomemaga zine .com

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Lynchburg Dental C E N T E R

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contents C e nt r a l V irg ini a h o m e E a r l y S p r in g 2 0 15

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features Kitchen Islands

The hottest spot in the house BY lAU R EL F E I N MA N

Make Plans for a Pool

Start dreaming of summer now

BY C O RY MO R G A N

A Family Home Focused on FuN

Whimsical features for the young and young at heart

BY J E S S I E THOM P S O N

At H ome f or a Li f etime

Aging in place with style

BY LAU R EL F E I N MA N

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK HOME Magazine c vhomemaga zine .com

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departments 41

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65

94

DESIGN

IMPROVE

GARDEN

LIVE

27 A rea R ugs Experts weigh in on choosing the right one

65 Coat C losets Wrangle your gear

41 G arden G adgets The latest in tech tools for gardeners

44 Snow Day Food Recipes using pantry staples fuel the fun

BY B ecky Calve rt

BY Lucy c o o k

73 E A R LY B L O O M E R S These flowers display first signs of spring

94 T he Color Report What’s the color of the year?

BY N o e lle Mi lam

BY R O RY R HO D ES

70 M antel M akeover A project you can do in a day

78 Warmth of W ood Raised panels, wainscoting and beadboard

BY Mitz i B ib le

BY Alyssa M e rcadante

BY K I M FOX

BY LAU R EL F E I N MAN

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78 S pecial I nterest 9 7 Resource gallery 9 8 Index of advertisers 16

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Now Available in Black

RAILINGS COLUMNS FENCING ARBORS SCREEN PORCHES DECKING

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P h ot o p rov i d e d by C o r n e r s t o n e C a b in et s a n d D e si gn

FANTASY ISLANDS

The tide has changed on the function and form of kitchen islands

BY Laur el F ein m an

“Island.” Close your eyes and the mere mention of it calls to mind the image of a luxurious expanse, distinct from the rest of its surroundings—a destination.

Oh yes, the lure of the islands is real, and a kitchen island is one of the most popular elements in kitchen design today. Used for cooking, dining and even homework—the kitchen island might just be the hottest spot in the entire house.

Chris Hargis of Pinnacle Cabinetry and Design says the idea of having a central worktable in a kitchen isn’t new, but when the popular “open floor plan” made the kitchen an official part of a home’s entertaining space, homeowners began to see their kitchens as a room that was equally worthy of both function and style.

He says, “Since the late 70s, homes have changed and the kitchen has become the new family room. Kitchen islands are a great way to delineate the work area from the living area.”

When kitchen islands first came on the scene, there was a trend of putting the cooktop and its related under-counter pot and pan storage in the island.

The island cooktop was an extension of the kitchen’s work triangle—detached from the perimeter, giving cooks a little more room to maneuver in the kitchen. However, many homeowners now prefer that their kitchen sinks and dishwashers be placed in the island, instead. c vhomemaga zine .com

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C a b in et r y by D e c o r á® b ro u ght t o yo u by T h e C a b in et G a ll e r y

Sinking in

Over time, homeowners began to notice that they were spending a lot of time working at their sinks with their backs turned to the rest of the room. Hargis explains that we spend most of our time in the kitchen preparing to cook, or cleaning up from cooking.

Hargis says, “By moving the sink to the island, they don’t have to have their backs to the family room anymore—they can socialize and remain a part of the action. Plus, sinks take up less room than a cooktop and hood. So, when the cooktop moves, the island can become a place where you can have plenty of room to really get something done.”

Of all island sink styles, Hargis says the apron front (or “farmhouse” sink) is the most popular style because of the way they’re installed. Apron front sinks sit slightly forward on the cabinets, versus traditional standard sinks that are dropped in a hole cut into the countertop, so they don’t need extra inches of countertop in front of them. Those extra inches can become useable counter space on the other side.

So, when homeowners relocate their cooktops to the perimeter of the kitchen and bring the kitchen sink to the island, they can solve several problems in their kitchen’s workflow, with the added stylish result of gaining two focal points. The island itself becomes a focal point, especially with attractive pendant lighting hanging over it, and a decorative canopy and backsplash installed over the range become another attractive view to highlight the space.

Lowering the Bar

At one time, two-tiered islands were popular, with an upper countertop installed for barstool-height dining. Homeowners 2 0

liked having the visual shield that the upper level provided between the living room and the kitchen, but the issue with this design was that, in most kitchens, this dual surface arrangement dipped too far into the already-crowded prep space around the cooktop. Homeowners were left with a long, skinny shelf that wasn’t very comfortable for dining after all, and very little usable counter space around their cooktops. Because of lessons learned in those early open-kitchen designs, most new kitchen islands now feature a single-level work surface.

John Eggleston of Spectrum Stone Designs says this new, single-level layout has made the kitchen island more versatile.

“Islands are the main attraction in the kitchen and we expect a lot out of them. They’re extra prep space, an eat-in kitchen, a buffet and a wet bar during a party, and a place for the kids do their homework while dinner’s being cooked,” he says.

Eggleston says that he sometimes does island replacements in lieu of full-blown kitchen renovations. He says, “For most homeowners, redoing a kitchen is a once-in-a-lifetime project.

So, maybe they got it almost right the first time, but later learned their kitchen could work even better, if only they had a different island.”

Leave no Stone Unturned

Sometimes, Eggleston says, all it takes to update the island is a new countertop. He says, “The island can become a pivotal design piece in the kitchen and the greater room that it’s a part of. The details make the island stand apart.”

He says that granite is still the most popular kind of countertop, with manmade solid-surface quartz-based materials made by Cambria and Silestone requested almost as often.

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TWO LOCAL BUSINESSES

Working Together Dream Kitchen TO BUILD YOUR

SPECTRUM STONE DESIGNS 434.993.0888 • spectrumstonedesigns.com

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But, Eggleston also says he has recently seen an upsurge in requests for butcher block, soapstone and even marble—natural surface materials, used in kitchens of antiquity, that are known to be far more delicate than the easy-care granite and quartz. Perhaps it’s simply a case of “what’s old is new again.”

He says, “Maybe it’s the throwback to history that some TV shows and movies are making so popular these days, but one of the prettiest kitchen surface combinations that I’ve done recently is soapstone on the perimeter and marble on the island. People aren’t so worried anymore about babying their countertops and having perfect kitchens. They like the patina that comes from a lived-in, well-used kitchen.”

The Lived-in Look

Hargis agrees that homeowners are favoring a vintage look, that kitchen cabinets are also influenced by the trend, and that customers want details added to their islands to give them the look of one-of-akind antique, freestanding furniture. He says, “We’re adding embellishments like turned legs, under-counter corbels, fancy feet, carvings and moldings to add visual interest.”

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“The most popular cabinetry combination right now is light-colored painted or glazed cabinets on the perimeter and contrasting, bolder hues for the island.”

— Ch r i s H a rg i s , P i n n a c l e Ca b i n et r y a n d D e s i g n

Hargis says that another element of this vintage, homey style is painted, mismatched cabinets. He says, “Most cabinet makers have increased their color palettes and many even allow for custom paint colors. The most popular cabinetry combination right now is light-colored painted or glazed cabinets on the perimeter and contrasting, bolder hues for the island.”

He says that white is still the hottest color for the perimeter, along with light grey. On the island, he says he often uses shades of blue, green and even red. Hargis says that some homeowners achieve a bolder look for their island by using dark stained wood or even something exotic like zebrawood.

Eggleston says that tactile details on the island countertop surfaces also add to the effect. He says, “Honed, or chiseled, rocky finishes along the edges are increasingly popular. We can also give the countertop a finish that looks and feels just like leather— it just adds a softer, matte finish to contrast all those hard, shiny surfaces on the appliances and the other countertops.”

Thinking Outside “The Box”

Eggleston also says that most homeowners don’t want “big rectangles” in their kitchens anymore. Whether he’s doing a complete island replacement or replacing and upgrading an island countertop, he says he often adds rounded countertops for the seating area at the extension of the island, both to provide a designated dining spot and to help transition the island into the 2 4

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family room’s décor. He says that homeowners like being able to use standard-height stools and kitchen chairs at these extensions on their new multi-use, single-level islands.

With most new kitchen islands offering even more than just a site for meal prep, cleanup and casual dining, many homeowners are installing conveniences like refrigerator drawers for the kids’ snacks, recycling centers and even pet feeding stations in their islands.

Since many cooks now search recipes on their digital tablets, they no longer need the bookshelves that were once a standard island feature. However, homeowners now need an abundance of electrical outlets, thanks to all their handheld electronic devices. To meet this new demand, many homeowners are requesting drawers equipped with multi-outlet power strips so they can charge all their electronic devices under the counter, where they’ll be safe from kitchen spills and splashes.

The Continental Divide

S c hro c k ® C a b in et r y b ro u ght t o yo u by T h e C a b in et G a ll e r y

Eggleston says that a few years ago in the kitchen design industry, there was a running joke that kitchen islands had grown into continents. But he says recently he’s seen the pendulum swing in the other direction, as many homeowners want smaller, more compact and efficient kitchens.

434.239.0976 | 171-A Vista Centre Drive, Forest | www.CornerstoneCabinetsAndDesign.com

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He observes, “People are really practical these days. They’re cooking and entertaining at home and what they want the most is for their homes to be flexible, practical and functional.”

With that in mind, Eggleston says that islands don’t have to be huge to be useful. He says that small butcher blocks are making a comeback and that some homeowners are even requesting their kitchen island to be mounted on casters so they can keep the island in the room when they need the worktop, and roll it out of the way when they want the open space.

There’s an ideal kitchen design for everyone and many can accommodate a kitchen island. Kitchen islands aren’t one-size-fits-all features; they can be customized to suit your needs and fit any style of home décor.

The kitchen island is the center of activity—how you spend your time there is entirely up to you.

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n DESIGN AREA RUGS

Plush Meets Perfect

How to Choose an Area Rug

By R o ry R h o d es

For several decades in the 20th century, wall-to-wall carpeting was the modern standard of luxury and comfort for most homes. Many of us have lived in a home featuring powder blue Saxony, avocado shag or beige Berber at one point or another. But with the return of hardwood floors— along with the rise of tile, cork, and concrete alternatives—area rugs have once again become a key design element. Aesthetically, they anchor your furniture, define a space and set the tone of the room. Practically, they provide warmth, soften acoustics and protect the floor from wear and tear.

If you’ve been eyeing an outdated or worn-out area rug for a while now, chances are you’re still trying to figure out what you want next, and what will work in your space. With so many options out there, where do you start? Here, some local experts weigh in with a few tips to help you find the right rug for your space. c vhomemaga zine .com

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Measurements Matter

Start by measuring your room before shopping. From there, you can determine how you want your rug to fit. Dawn Rezai, owner of Persian Rugs & More, suggests, “A rug needs a proper ‘frame’ of 18 to 24 inches to show off the rug, as well as set the space for furniture.”

Rug size also depends on furniture and how it will be placed in the room. In family and living rooms, for example, some experts suggest resting just the front legs of a sofa on the rug.

However, Laura Sackett of The Arched Doorway says that when she is helping clients choose an area rug, she likes to place it under the whole seating arrangement, or centered in front of the sofa and chairs or a fireplace. In dining rooms, Sackett says to be sure the rug is “large enough for chairs to pull in and out unhindered, so a person can be seated without catching the edge of the rug.” And in bedrooms, where comfort is paramount, Sackett believes bigger is better. Another tactic here is to place an area rug horizontally under the bed, positioned so that most of the rug is exposed at the foot and sides.

Consider Color and Pattern

The most obvious feature of an area rug can also be the trickiest for many shoppers. More than anything else, color and pattern establish the feeling of a space. When considering an Oriental rug, Rezai suggests evaluating the amount of light in the room before selecting a design. “If there is not very much natural light,” she says, “then a light-colored rug can lighten up a space. If, on the other hand, there is a lot of light, then you can use a navy or black rug and not darken the mood of the room.” She also notes that, for the first time in her 17 years in business, she is receiving requests for shades of purple in rugs.

Sackett approaches color and pattern from the perspective of her clients’ lifestyle. “Darker rugs show lint and dust. Lighter would be terrible if you have a black Lab,” she says. Patterned rugs adorned every High Point Furniture Market showroom that Sackett visited last fall, and she points out that not only are they very much in style, but they also show less wear and tear. Of particular interest at the moment are kilims—a less expensive alternative to Oriental rugs, but with a similar vibe.

P hoto provide d by T he A rche d Door way

Find Your Fiber

It’s important to know what a rug is made of and whether it will fit your lifestyle and your space. For example, a natural-fiber rug like jute or sisal can look terrific in a living area, imparting a clean, modern feel and wonderful texture, but would you enjoy it in your bedroom, where it’s the first thing your bare toes touch when you get out of bed in the morning? Also, how much traffic does your space get? The dense construction of flat weave rugs means not only can they stand up to traffic, they’re easier to keep clean. A high pile rug will be soft to sit on and give your room a cozy, luxurious feel, but will show footprints and might be better suited for a less-traveled area. Rugs constructed with loop fibers (like Berber) are not a good choice if they will be in contact with things that snag, such as pets’ claws or children’s toys.

A recent trend embraced by savvy homeowners is using indoor/outdoor rugs in high-traffic areas. Sackett notes that a client with young children and a puppy recently bought one for her sunroom and playroom and is very satisfied. “I predict we will see more of that with all the great-looking choices in catalogs and online. Plus the price is right!” she says.

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Consider too, the dreaded stain factor. Although many modern fibers are treated with a stain protectant, there are caveats to consider. Rezai says that stains on wool can be treated more aggressively without damaging the fibers, and that polyester, nylon and olefin clean fairly well too. Natural fiber rugs, on the other hand, tend to be trickier to clean.

While it’s helpful to do preliminary research online to get a general sense of what you’re looking for, experts agree that there’s no substitute for seeing and touching a rug to determine its true quality, feel and color. “Photographs of rugs online can be very deceiving. Any reputable dealer is going to allow a customer to try an Oriental rug [at home] before they purchase it,” says Rezai.

Determine Your Budget

Last but by no means least, your budget will usually help narrow down the field considerably. Are you looking for something affordable to get you through a few seasons, or a timeless piece to enjoy for years? A hand-knotted Oriental rug is an investment piece, and it’s not uncommon for designers to purchase such a rug first and choose furniture to match. Rezai says buyers should understand that the various styles and materials—from handknotted to tufted, machine-loomed to hooked, wools and silks to olefin—all affect the cost, cleaning and collectability of rugs.

“Within each category there are subcategories, and customers need some education before they start shopping,” she says. Handwoven and wool rugs are naturally going to be pricier, while machine-made synthetic alternatives are easier on the wallet and a great way to enjoy trends without overspending.

Once you’ve chosen your rug, there’s one important detail homeowners shouldn’t overlook: a rug pad. Rezai says that not only do they help prevent the rug from slipping or shifting and causing a safety hazard, but they also help the rug wear evenly, and soften pressure points caused by heavy furniture. Sackett suggests a rug pad should be cut one to two inches smaller than your rug.

Use these parameters to help make your choice, but remember that ultimately, you should buy something you enjoy looking at and feeling beneath your feet. If you buy what you love, it’s hard to go wrong!

Nadine Blakely REALTOR® ASP, SRES

Nadine Blakely SOLD

more than 115 homes in 2014!

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TAKE THE

PLUNGE plan a poolside retreat P hoto provide d by Nationa l Pools , photo gra phy by Atk ins P hoto gra phy

By Co ry M o rgan

Home swimming pools can provide hours of relaxation and fun-in-the-sun for you and your family. Even though we’re months away from summer, this time of year is exactly when you want to get the ball rolling on this venture, since planning and installing one is no small feat.

Before diving into a new swimming pool installation project, it helps to familiarize yourself with all the facets of the project. It’s not as simple as picking a pool template and having it installed. There are many things to consider—the slope of your land, the type of materials to use around your pool, the shape and style of the pool itself, and more. Everyone knows how entertaining and relaxing a private pool can be, but a pool project done well can completely transform and elevate the atmosphere of a home into a resort-like paradise.

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Don’t Dig Up the Backyard Just Yet

Before you go about researching pool designs, the first step is assessing the feasibility of building a pool into your land. John Perry of Perry Pools and Spas says that the first question to ask is if you physically have room for a pool. If the answer is yes, then you start investigating the details. “Each locality has their own set of rules for any type of accessory structure. Distance from property lines, sewage systems, and utilities are the first thing your pool contractor will assess,” he explains.

Location of potential barriers need not be deal breakers, however. They can often be moved—at a cost. So it is usually not a question of whether or not your land is suitable for a swimming pool, but how many obstacles you must work around within your budget. Your pool contractor will be able to manage all major aspects of this project and make the appropriate accommodations. Jason Vaughan, president of National Pools, says, “Pools can be built on most any site. It’s just a matter of cost.”

Tracy Norvelle, landscape architect and pool construction supervisor of Land Tech Group, explains one tool that pool contractors use to manage less-than-perfect yards. “A flat, level spot is nice, but is usually not the case in Virginia. A retaining wall is required about 75 percent of the time.” The severity of the yard’s slope affects the cost of this kind of project, depending upon the size of the required retaining wall or other accommodation.

When it comes to evaluating your expenses, there is a lot to keep in mind beyond just the labor and materials required to build the pool itself. Leave room in your budget for landscaping, 34

structural additions, fences and gates, planters and foliage, and outdoor furniture. You will also need to think long term about things such as maintenance costs, electrical expenses and changes to your homeowners insurance. Reflect on the reasons you initially considered installing a pool. Are you looking for a place for you and your spouse to relax after a long day of work?

Do you have a large family with younger children? Will you want to entertain the neighborhood with cookouts and pool parties, or host more intimate gatherings? Answering these types of questions will help clarify your goals for your future outdoor space and guide you toward a personalized paradise.

Making the Pool Part of the Home

While many existing physical factors dictate the general location of your pool, exact orientation of the pool is largely up to you, and should be done strategically. To create a cohesive space, envision the pool area not as a separate entity, but rather as an extension of your home. There should be a natural flow from the physical structure of the house to the pool, to unify the spaces. Achieve this by installing access features like paths and walkways that complement the design elements you already have in place. This is also a good opportunity to incorporate any other existing features, such as patios, along the way if possible.

Accessing the pool is an important consideration as well.

“Placement will depend on what is the best use of space and connecting the pool space to the home,” says Vaughan. “We typically try to arrange the pool so that the shallow end with the steps is closest to the points of access such as doors, steps and gates, so it creates a natural flow into the pool.” He stresses C e n t r a l V i r g i n i a h o m e E a r l y S p r i n g 2 0 1 5

P h ot o p rov i d e d by N at i o na l Po o ls , p h ot o gr a p hy by At k ins P h ot o gr a p hy

the importance of keeping the pool and its surrounding area “close to areas such as the kitchen and bathrooms for easy access during times of entertaining.” It is also important not to overlook the location of existing trees and tall shrubbery. Though they may not directly block the pool area, you must think about how they might create unwanted shade.

The shape and style of the swimming pool goes hand-in-hand with its location and should reflect your taste as well. “Some find a formal rectangular pool to be pleasing while others like the curves of a free-form pool. The style of the home and landscaping are clues to determine this as well,” says Norvelle. Kidney-shaped or lagoon style swimming pools (which fall into the category of free-form) lend a more natural look to the location, and give the impression of a small pond or hidden oasis. On the other hand, rectangular pools might be the choice for a more contemporary-style home, as the sharp edges of the pool will mimic those of the house and provide a sleek look. Perry sums it up: “The size and shape of the pool should fit in with the existing home. When the project is finished, the pool and outdoor living space should blend in with the existing structure and not appear to be an afterthought.”

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Blurring the Line Between Hardscapes and Landscapes

Proper landscaping can also help ensure that your pool is not an isolated water hole out in the middle of your yard, but rather a natural part of it. Once again, it is crucial to keep your budget in mind and leave room for landscaping additions. The accents you choose to surround your swimming pool with can take the atmosphere from “concrete drab” to “oasis fab.” Selecting the appropriate type of materials for the exterior borders and edges of your pool space, such as mulch, gravel, pavers, planters and flowerbeds, is an essential part of constructing the perfect environment. Vaughan says, “If the home is existing, we try to select materials that have been used in other parts of the house.

In a new home project, it is good to use the same materials in order to tie the pool to the rest of the property.”

If you choose to work planters and flowerbeds into the design of your pool area, there are a few factors to keep in mind when choosing how to best fill them. The most important is to opt for low maintenance. Poolside plants should be tolerant of drought and full sun, since your pool will likely receive little to no shade.

It is also best to avoid “messy” plants that produce fruit, shed leaves frequently, or bloom substantially (which can also attract bees). This plant litter will inevitably find its way into the water, meaning more cleanup and maintenance. For a touch of color without too much fuss, try daylily or lily of the Nile. A few examples of suitable shrubs are sage bush, Gold Thread cypress, hosta, and pampas grass. Toward the perimeter of the yard, you may consider planting tall shrubs, such as emerald arborvitae or Leland cypress, to provide privacy.

C e n t r a l V i r g i n i a h o m e E a r l y S p r i n g 2 0 1 5

P h ot o p rov i d e d by N at i o na l Po o ls , p h ot o gr a p hy by At k ins P h ot o gr a p hy c vhomemaga zine .com

Traditional wood-based mulch can also present a problem, since it can easily skim across the concrete pool perimeter when the breeze picks up. To combat this, consider using rubber mulch to surround your plants or stone mulch to line your walkways. Each type is available in a variety of colors to fit any design scheme, and does not degrade or wash away as quickly as traditional mulch. Rubber mulch is an eco-friendly option since it is made from 100 percent recycled rubber.

Stone mulch can provide great visual impact, especially in free-form pool environments that have an organic look. A popular choice is river jacks, which are the smooth, water-washed stones frequently seen in waterscape features.

Another significant factor to consider is that private pools are required to meet specific codes and regulations throughout most of Virginia in terms of securing the perimeter of your pool area.

The exact requirements vary between localities; however, you will need fencing or gating of some sort that surrounds the pool—usually within a certain height range and sometimes requiring a lock or latch. You should discuss these details with your pool contractors, as code specifications vary between localities. Don’t think of this as a hindrance to your project, but rather as another way to add a creative touch to your landscape.

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Features and Additions

Adding features to your pool can be the one element that ties everything together and takes the pool atmosphere to the next level. The possibilities are endless when you incorporate spouting sconces, waterfalls and cascades, LED lighting and deck jets.

Vaughan says that one of the most popular features in pools today is the “sun shelf”—a shallow space within the pool that may be enjoyed by small children as well as for placing chairs into the water, providing a perfect tanning spot. Norvelle explains that if you are dealing with a yard that is not quite level, you may be able to use it to your benefit since this lends itself to a “vanishing edge” or “infinity” pool. She says, “Infinity edges … create a wow factor.”

Falling water features can add tremendous ambiance to your swimming pool. The sound of running water can be very refreshing, even when you aren’t in the pool, and provides the perfect background noise to mask traffic and other nuisances as you enjoy your pool area. There are choices to supplement any style and budget, from subtle and contemporary to grandiose and ornate. Spouting sconces or small fountains are a great choice for a formal or Mediterranean-style space. These features can be placed on top of a raised wall or along the edge of the pool. For greater impact, larger features such as waterfalls can be constructed to serve as a focal point for the entire space. Whether it’s a sleek, modern curtain of water or a rush tumbling down natural stones, a water feature is sure to add atmosphere and charm to a pool.

Perry reminds us that beyond creating a place to go for a swim, you are creating a whole outdoor living area. “Outside of the pool, the options are endless, from fire pits and outdoor kitchens to pool houses and outdoor pool tables,” he says.

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Keeping Your Pool Healthy

Vaughan explains that the majority of the swimming pools in this area are “salt water” pools. This means that the pool uses a salt chlorination system to constantly produce chlorine from the salt within it. “A salt pool is still a chlorine pool, but it does not run out of chlorine since the system can create chlorine over and over again from the same salt in the pool,” explains Vaughan.

Using this type of setup can be less expensive and require less upkeep than other alternatives.

A good pool cover will be needed for the off season, though it is important to realize that this alone will not prevent the growth of bacteria and algae. “We encourage our customers to operate their pools until water temperature gets below 55 degrees, which is the temperature that algae no longer grows,” says Vaughan.

He says that pools that are closed too early or opened too late may encounter algae growth even with the cover on the pool.

Mesh pool covers are a good choice, as they allow the water to flow naturally and not collect on top, while also keeping out unwanted debris.

There is a lot of responsibility involved with building, owning and maintaining a private swimming pool. It is a project that should be approached with as much research, planning and creative thinking as you would give to a major renovation, or purchasing a new home or car. When everything is complete and you begin to enjoy your swimming pool retreat, you will know that all of the effort and planning was well worth it.

C e n t r a l V i r g i n i a h o m e E a r l y S p r i n g 2 0 1 5

n GARDEN TECH TOOLS

GREAT GADGETS Gardening Goes High-Tech

By B ecky C a lv e rt

With technology’s influence over nearly every aspect of our lives, it was only a matter of time before we started seeing it put to use in our gardens. Thanks to advances in technology, we can sit back and enjoy our gardens more while working less. Whether by intuitive watering systems, hands-free mowing, critter deterrents or communication with our plants, there are numerous ways to use the latest technology to help our gardens grow.

Automating Lawn Care

Most standard irrigation systems can be set with a timer that controls irrigation regardless of the weather or moisture level of the soil. However, some of today’s systems have harnessed technology to offer options that take the weather into account. One example is Rainbird’s Simple to Set Irrigation Timer, which automatically adjusts your watering schedule both seasonally and to your current weather conditions. With a built-in nationwide historical weather database and a smart weather sensor, the system allows you to simply enter your zip code and preferred watering schedule, and the timer takes over, making adjustments as needed. Other models, like GARDENA’s Water Computer EasyControl, have optional rain or soil moisture sensors that can cancel a preset watering, saving water and your utility bills. Whether you have a professionally installed irrigation system or just want to set your soaker hose automatically, there are many options to help ensure your garden gets the right amount of water, regardless of the weather or the size of your wallet. While prices on these systems depend on the style and options, the simplest timers can cost as little as $40, and installed systems begin around $1,000. c vhomemaga zine .com

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Watering is not the only task to go hands free. Just as the Roomba can automatically vacuum the interior of your home, there are now a variety of robotic lawn mowers that will automatically cut your lawn. Most models work within a boundary established with a boundary wire. Mowing times can be preset, and many manufacturers offer apps for your smartphone for communicating with your robotic mower.

Whatever your lawn, there is a robotic mower made for it, with models to handle different sizes, slopes and complexities. Some models are equipped with rain sensors to avoid mowing in the rain, while others are made to withstand it—or even to mow at night. While newer companies like Lawnbott and Robomow offer choices, more established mower manufacturers like Husqvarna also carry a line of robotic mowers. Prices among manufacturers vary, but these models tend to be substantially more expensive than your typical lawn mower, with many prices starting over $1,000.

Keep Critters at Bay the High-Tech Way

All gardeners have dealt with pests at some time or another.

One classic, simple pest deterrent that’s been around for years is the kitschy plastic great-horned owl statue, doing good work discouraging small critters from entering gardens. A natural predator of birds, squirrels, rabbits, rodents and other destructive critters, the owl frightens them from feasting on your plants. In an update on this classic statue, the Easy Gardener Company has added movement and sound to replicate the natural predator for more realistic, environmentally friendly pest control. Their Garden Defense Electronic Owl is equipped with 42

sensors that detect when pests are nearby, causing the figure to turn its head and hoot in their direction. Battery-operated, the owl can rest on a fence post or be suspended from a tree to help keep your garden pest free. Best of all, the price tag on the Garden Defense Electronic Owl makes it a no-brainer to enlist its help in your garden, checking in around $50.

If you want to keep an eye out for how well your Garden Defense Owl works, capture the bloom of a flower, or track the activity around your birdbath, consider incorporating one of the many garden camera monitor products available. Brinno makes several; from the time-lapse GardenWatchCam or the motion sensor-activated BirdWatchCam, there are a number of options for you to remotely capture the action in your garden.

Equipped with high-quality lenses in weatherproof cases, these battery-operated cameras also have built-in sleep settings to enable longer battery life. Ringing in at the price of a decent point-and- shoot digital camera, Brinno’s cameras range from about $150 to $275, making it easy and affordable to keep an eye on your garden.

There are also gadgets to take the guesswork out of where to plant or to help you diagnose why a particular plant might not be thriving. Luster Leaf’s Rapitest Digital 4-Way Analyzer measures moisture, pH, fertilizer and temperature levels, while the Black & Decker PlantSmart digital plant care sensor takes it a step further, connecting to your computer to recommend ideal plants for a particular spot or offer specific advice for your existing plants. PlantSmart even helps you create a library of your favorite plants, saving your readings for future use. Both gadgets cost under $50, with wildly different appearances.

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While Luster Leaf looks like a traditional science gadget, PlantSmart resembles a plastic flower.

Also resembling nature in appearance is Parrot’s Flower Power. Shaped like a branch, this gadget is designed to be placed in the dirt of a potted plant where it will monitor the sunlight, temperature, moisture and fertilizer levels your plant is experiencing. It communicates this information through an app on your smartphone or tablet to tell you when your plant needs attention. Retailing around $59, gadgets like Flower Power make it easier for even the blackest of thumbs to be successful plant owners.

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All Kinds of Apps

You don’t need to own any of these gadgets to take advantage of gardening apps on your smartphone or tablets. There are a vast number of apps to help with almost every aspect of the garden, short of doing it for you. Apps for the garden can help with so many tasks: offer weather forecasts, help plan your garden, keep track of what you planted and when, monitor the number of hours of sunlight in a day, diagnose diseases, and even provide special social networks for gardeners. Among favorites for you to check out are Garden Plan Pro (a vegetable garden planner—$7.99 and worth it!), Into Gardens, Garden Time Planner and Garden Compass (all free). With all this technology, it seems the only work we have to do is the actual planting, freeing up more time to bask in the beauty of our gardens.

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n LIVE CULINARY CORNER

Snow Day, Kitchen Play Stock your pantry for easy comfort food

By Lucy Co o k

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W

We all laugh at each other and ourselves each time snow is predicted. It seems to be a local covenant: Run to the store to buy bread and milk! (I’ve got an excuse: with two teenaged boys, I buy bread and milk every time I go to the store!) Many times, when I arrive before a storm, the shelves in the bread and dairy aisles are nearly empty. When a winter storm passes us by as they sometimes do, I imagine there are many households throwing away gallons of spoiled milk and moldy bread.

Though I do have one favorite recipe with main ingredients of milk and bread, I usually spend my snow days making hearty soups and pasta dishes, and maybe some “kitchen sink” cookies, using whatever I can find in the freezer or pantry. I consider my freezer an extension of my pantry—just holding things that will spoil if I leave them at room temperature. We all probably have some of the same basics in our freezers and pantries—flour, sugar, olive oil, pasta, frozen vegetables and the like. But there is a whole category of things beyond bread and milk that I consider basic that you may not have considered stocking. Add these to your stash of provisions, so you’re ready for the next snowstorm or long winter weekend: Dried mushrooms: Use these to pump up the flavor in soups or pasta. Ground

straight from the package in your spice grinder, they also make a great rub for meat.

Good bacon: Buy good-quality bacon. Freeze it in packages of 4 strips. Just that

small amount can upgrade any dish.

Whole gr ains: Store wheat berries, farro, brown rice and other whole grains in the

freezer or in airtight containers in your pantry to maintain freshness.

Dried fruit: Dried fruit is a great accompaniment to cheese, a classic addition to a

wintery pork roast, and delicious chopped in cookies.

Frozen shrimp: They’re frozen individually, so you can pull out just a handful for

a special dinner for one or two.

Chocol ate chips: Buy good chocolate chips (60 percent cocoa) so they can be

used in brownies, cakes and other desserts, without having to stock lots of different kinds of specialty chocolate.

Nuts: Buy nuts on sale in the fall and store them in the freezer. Roast whole nuts at 350 degrees for five minutes right before using them to heighten the taste. Chop and use in desserts, salads or pasta, or sprinkled over roasted vegetables.

Beans: Dried beans are economical and easy to cook if you have a little notice. If you only have a little time, lentils are a great, quick-cooking option too.

Asian-inspired ingredients: Curry paste, fish sauce and coconut milk are the basics of a great meal with any fish, meat or vegetable.

Good vinegar and olive oil: Throw away the bottled salad dressing and

make your own.

With a fully stocked panty and freezer, you could make just about anything! Here is my favorite bread-and-milk-based recipe, plus a few recipes that may be useful on a cold day—whether it snows or not! Happy cooking! c vhomemaga zine .com

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Strata (serves 8-12) Lots of people call this breakfast casserole, but I like to think of it as a savory bread pudding—a potential side for dinner too!

There is a version of this dish in many cultures—think frittata and quiche. A strata is endlessly flexible and a great way to use up leftover cheeses from a party, or other ingredients you may have on hand. This is best made at least 8 hours before baking.

5 cups cubed bread (use regular white bread, or you could use what you have on hand like leftover croissants, French bread, etc.)

2 ½ cups cheese (all one kind, or a mixture) 10 eggs 4 cups milk 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon pepper Optional: add up to 1½ cups total of cooked sausage, ham, sautéed onions or leeks, sautéed and strained spinach, sautéed mushrooms or blanched asparagus.

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Place the bread in an even layer in a greased 9 x 13 casserole.

Sprinkle with the cheese and any additional ingredients you choose.

In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs. Add the milk, mustard, salt and pepper. Pour the milk mixture over the bread, cover with foil and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.

When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350. Cook for 35 minutes covered, then uncover and bake another 10-15 minutes until browned and the center is not jiggly.

Some ideas for combinations: Mushroom, leek and Gruyere cheese Sausage and cheddar Spinach, onion and bleu cheese C e n t r a l V i r g i n i a h o m e E a r l y S p r i n g 2 0 1 5

Kitchen Sink Cookies (makes 12-20 based on size) My kids and I like to come up with original recipes and make things like this once in a while. We love the combination of sweet and salty, so don’t leave out the pretzels!

2 sticks unsalted butter 1 ½ cups firmly packed brown sugar 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 cup oats 2 cups chocolate chips (are chocolate chips ever optional?)

Optional ingredients: 1 cup unsweetened flaked coconut 1 cup nuts (walnuts, pecans or almonds), roasted for 5 minutes then coarsely chopped 1 cup crushed pretzels or potato chips 1 cup dried fruit like raisins or cranberries Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla and mix well. Add flour and baking soda. Mix in oatmeal and optional ingredients.

Scoop onto baking sheet. Flatten slightly with wet hands. Bake at 350 until done, about 9 to 13 minutes, depending on the size of your cookies.

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The Future of Education

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Lentil Soup (serves four) Even though you may have all day to cook during a storm, this great soup comes together in less than an hour. Or, to make a delicious side for grilled salmon, reduce the stock to 3 cups.

2 tablespoons olive oil 1 onion, chopped 1 carrot, chopped 2 stalks celery, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 tablespoon curry paste or 2 teaspoons smoked paprika 2 cups lentils, picked through for stones then rinsed 6 cups homemade chicken or vegetable stock 3 handfuls fresh spinach, roughly chopped Salt and pepper, to taste Heat the olive oil in a large stock pot. Saute onions, carrots and celery about 5 minutes over medium heat. Add the garlic, stirring constantly, and cook for another 2 minutes. Add the curry paste or paprika and cook another minute. Add the lentils and stock and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, then cover and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes. Stir, and add salt and pepper to taste.

Just before serving, add spinach and stir to wilt it.

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Urban Ch

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Moving Mountains

MODERN MEETS RUSTIC IN FAMILY DREAM HOME

By J essi e T h o m ps o n P h ot o g r a p hy by M a r k T h o m p so n

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SCAN THIS PAGE TO SEE ADDITIONAL PHOTOS OF THIS HOME

Traveling on twisty roads through rolling farmland, the landscape in Gladys is dotted with four-square farmhouses and newer brick ranches set along fields of crops and cows. But around one particular bend on Bear Creek Road is a house that makes those driving by slow down to take a longer look: placed in the side of a mountain is a new, modern home, but one that obviously has rustic roots.

The home, which belongs to Allen and Carrington Bass, is both a nod to the past— built on land that has been in Allen’s family for decades—and the future, both in its modern design and as a place for their own family.

Allen bought the land shortly after he graduated from college, knowing he would want his own family to be close to his parents. He dreamed of someday settling down and raising a family across the road from his boyhood home. Then he met Carrington, and knew she was the one. He proposed to her in a small clearing on the property, and the dream started to become a little more concrete. c vhomemaga zine .com

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A

fter they married, they began designing their dream house in earnest. They also started a family. Now with two sons, Waylon, 3, and Cash, who will turn 1 in July, they are feeling settled. The hardest part of the entire process, they both agree, was finding just the right design for the exterior of the home.

“We always knew the house would be here, and how we wanted it to look, we just had to find the right plans,” says Carrington. “This,” adds Allen, “was the 27th million plan we looked at.”

Even then, the plan needed to be modified. The original plan encompassed about 10,000 square feet, including quarters for a nanny, which just didn’t fit their lifestyle. They called on one of Allen’s best friends, builder Kevin Pugh, for some help. Pugh introduced them to general contractor Keith Smith of Smith Built Construction, and with some advice from Lynchburg structural engineer Randy Parrish, the home started to take shape, literally.

“With as complex as the design is— there are 36 corners in this house, where a typical house has eight or 10—it was one of the easiest projects I’ve worked on,” says Pugh. “The homeowners made decisions easily, so we could keep moving forward.”

Still, it took 18 months to complete the house, which needed its 6,600 square feet to be positioned just right on the mountainside to allow for a large basement and expansive outdoor spaces on two levels.

Fun in the Foyer

Once the construction was underway, Carrington turned her attention to the inside. She filled a three-ring binder with design ideas.

“I want it to be welcoming, to have our kids grow up here and be happy to grow up here. A fun house, a place where people want to be,” she says. Translating those feelings into a tangible design wasn’t as difficult as Carrington thought it might be. She started, literally, at the front door—with a slide.

“I thought it would be tacky,” Allen says. “But she proved me wrong.”

The slide, a twist of black plastic, greets visitors from its position right next to the L-shaped staircase. The family opted for a modern set of stairs, 52

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custom built with open treads. And instead of traditional, vertical balusters, the stairs feature horizontal cables between posts.

Carrington asked their painter, Jeremy Lethcoe, to add wide, horizontal lines on one foyer wall. Because of the open floor plan, the stripes continue throughout the house and give continuity between not just rooms, but from the first floor to the second floor as well. They also reinforce the look of the linear cables that run through the railing system and the lines created by the hickory hardwood floors throughout the house.

Another request: a custom light fixture in the entryway. Carrington wanted just the right piece, nothing too fancy, but something big enough to fill the space. She opted to incorporate one of her favorite decorating items: vintage Ball mason jars with zinc lids. The finished piece uses an antique wagon wheel that holds 12 jars cascading in a downward spiral, mirroring the slide. A powder room is just off the foyer.

But visitors rarely hang out by the front door, say the Basses. They are drawn almost immediately into the great room, with its expansive windows that show off Campbell County’s rolling hills as far as the eye can see.

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Abundant natural light, amazing views, a two-story fireplace and a just-for-fun slide are a few of the delights in the Bass home.

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A Pleasing Palette

Carrington says she “grew up in a house that was pretty dark, color-wise,” and knew that she wanted lighter paint colors that would be consistent throughout the house. The home is flooded with natural light, and so variations of cream, soft tan and whispering gray gave Carrington the right neutral palette.

Decorating the great room, says Carrington, was intimidating.

Finding the right furniture, which had to be comfortable, durable, and neutral enough to blend into the background, proved to be challenging. She was also looking for something that wouldn’t detract from the incredible views. Ultimately, she opted for tan leather sofas, one facing the two-story massive rock chimney and fireplace, and one facing the expanse of windows and doors that open to the second-floor patio.

She chose to accent with a light blue with gray undertones, a look that carries into the open kitchen, which sits next to the great room. She took a chalk painting class at Studio Eleven in Lynchburg, and decided to paint her kitchen cabinets with a mixture of Annie Sloan’s Provence and Paris Gray chalk paint.

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“Craig Riner, from Riner’s Wood Products, made these beautiful, natural cabinets. I was afraid he was thinking I would mess them up. I was afraid I might mess them up.”

Not only did she avoid “messing up,” but she liked the look so much that she painted all of the home’s custom cabinetry with the easy-to-work-with Annie Sloan chalk paint.

The bar overhang in the kitchen is painted in a combination of Graphite and Paris Gray. The subtle differences in color help bring cohesion with other spaces throughout the house. She also used pops of blue to provide continuity. The pendant lights over the island, for example, are made from blue Ball jars. Similar jars line the top of the cabinets and add a touch of whimsy.

Carrington also used visually similar materials in different spaces: the look of the stone fireplace, for example, is repeated in the kitchen as a backsplash. And countertops in the kitchen made of white quartz flecked with silver, which came from Spectrum Stone Design in Concord, are also used atop cabinetry throughout the house. The shine adds a modern flare to an otherwise traditional surface.

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Tucked behind the kitchen is the family’s dining room. A large portion of the wall over a side bar she painted Duck Egg Blue is painted with black chalkboard paint and wrapped in an ornate frame painted in an Annie Sloan color called English Yellow.

Carrington says she marks important days there, which could be anything from an upcoming birthday to a winning season in soccer to counting down days until the next vacation.

While she enjoys displaying family photos—snapshots are attached to a painted bike wheel mounted on one of the dining room walls—Carrington prefers uncluttered designs. She also has an eye for unique pieces that create an eclectic vibe in an otherwise neutral palette. To this end, she spotted a perfect light fixture for the dining room when she was shopping in downtown Lynchburg’s Urban Merchant.

Wire baskets in various sizes hang upsidedown from a weathered board, the height determined by twine. “It was exactly what I wanted,” she says. The metal and wood add textural contrast to the rattan chairs and table, which can easily seat six. A buffet table is wide enough to hold platters for large family gatherings.

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The Working Rooms

Spaces that give Carrington a sense of pride are the working rooms in the house.

The two-car garage features custom cabinetry that incorporates a vintage Ford tailgate to store boots, hats and coats, along with a sink, so when Allen comes home from work (he owns Bass Sod Farm with his brother), he can clean up a little before coming inside. “When he’s clean, he’s allowed in,” Carrington jokes.

Entering the house from the garage, there is mudroom on the left; each family member has a cubby with a hook for a sweater or jacket, along with a basket large enough to hold seasonal items. She painted those Greek Blue.

On the other side of the wall is a large laundry room, also organized to eliminate clutter. Each family member has his or her own laundry basket, which can be easily hidden from sight in a deep cabinet. A utility sink and a central vacuum system ensure messes get cleaned up quickly.

Across the laundry room is a pantry, with shelves filling what could have been an awkward, angled space, to provide even more storage solutions that keep the household organized.

Her office, too, is all about function.

Also off of the great room, it’s where she can slide the barn door closed and get some work done. For now, it contains some baby accessories, but it is definitely a woman’s space. Accents of bright, cheerful pink allow Carrington a touch of femininity in a practical space. Across the hallway, a guest room, complete with another full bath, is currently being used as a playroom.

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The Resting Rooms

Bedrooms for the two boys are upstairs, complemented with a hall bath featuring two vessel sinks, so as they grow, they will have their own spaces. Carrington painted these cabinets a mixture of Napoleonic Blue and Provence. The bedrooms are exactly the same size and shape, each with a triangle window facing the incredible east views, so there won’t be any future bickering about who has the better room.

Carrington says she wanted to have rooms the boys could grow into, to resist the urge to “cutesy up” a room for babies or young boys. She opted instead for more traditional-yet-contemporary design elements that will withstand the test of time: bold zigzags, stripes and polka dots. Both rooms also feature a continuation of the horizontal painted stripes from downstairs. Each room has a single letter monogram and a personalized pennant for each boy.

She knows there will be more messes and clutter to come, but she has worked hard to devise ways of keeping it hidden.

Case in point: Waylon’s bed. Whimsical in its boat design, the hull is actually

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Oh, for the Love of Wine

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made up of drawers, eliminating the need for a separate dresser. Both rooms also have large, walk-in closets with built-in shelves to maintain easy organization.

The bedrooms are the only room in the house with coverings on the windows. Carrington says she needed to install blinds in their windows so the rooms would be dark enough for the boys to sleep.

The master bedroom also features blinds; the only drapes in the house are those over the windows and doors to their private balcony. Complete with blackout lining, they were installed to filter out the morning light.

It’s a bit of a lost cause, though, laugh both homeowners, because directly over the bed is a cupola with 10 windows. In fact, the cupola was one of the more difficult elements to build, according to Pugh and Smith. It had to be lined up with the roof ridge, so there wouldn’t be any leaks.

Here, too, Carrington prefers a less-is-more look, with just a bed, two nightstands and a swivel-mounted TV. Their clothes are kept in their walk-in closets, hidden behind barn doors. Carrington and Allen agree that it’s a room that provides tranquility without distraction. The only piece of hanging artwork is simple and tasteful: “Love” is displayed on aged wooden planks.

“We get to see every sunrise, every moon rise, and every single one is different,” says Allen. “All are great.”

The master bath, too, is designed for relaxation. Here too, two vessel sinks sit atop contemporary quartz, to create individual areas, and, again, Ball jars are used as fixtures. In this room, Carrington, with the help of her mother, painted the cabinetry Graphite and Paris Gray then topped it with Provence.

The shower is about more than just getting clean; it is a work of art.

With no door, angled walls lead to a large, customized stall with rain showerheads and a hand-held sprayer. A huge window above a large, jetted tub allow for total relaxation while taking in more spectacular views.

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The home of Carrington and Allen Bass is built on land that has been in Allen’s family for decades. It is positioned on the mountainside to allow for a large basement and expansive outdoor spaces on two levels.

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Outdoor Spaces

The homeowners’ attention to detail extends to the home’s exterior as well. Being one of the owners of Bass Sod Farm, Allen saw to it that all of the grass was of the highest quality, lush and deep green. For other landscaping decisions and plantings, he called on Jerry Epps Landscaping in Halifax, and L.K. Carwile & Sons placed rocks made by Innovative Stoneworks around the 10 acres the homeowners cleared off the mountainside.

It is a true joy, both homeowners agree, to entertain and spend time in the home’s expansive outdoor spaces.

The women, joke Carrington, get to hang out on the upstairs deck, to keep an eye on contained children. To make her point, she notes that the exterior light fixtures are crafted from wine bottles. The downstairs patio lights?

Beer bottles.

The six massive pillars holding up the patio spaces are wrapped in stone, as is the whole lower level of the house. Allen also insisted on having custom-made “flying gables,” saying he wanted only three things in their house: the cable railing systems, the barn doors inside, and the flying gables. Pugh and Smith said the gables— particularly the one on the east side of the house—were complex. “It’s 26 feet from the subfloor to the ridge,” Pugh explains, so they had to build the gable on the ground, then use a crane to put it into place.

Allen couldn’t be happier. “I wanted some say in all this,” he says, “and everything Carrington showed me, I said ‘Yup.’ I like everything she picked out. Everything.”

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n IMPROVE COAT CLOSETS

The Ideal Coat Closet from dumping ground to shipshape

By N o el l e Mi l a m

“A place for everything, and everything in its place.” Growing up, this was a phrase I heard more times than I cared to. My father, a career naval officer, spent years aboard ships, and liked his home to run on the same principles of discipline and order that worked so well when he was at sea. Though he met with varying degrees of success (and eye-rolling, and dramatic sighs) at home, I can say that in retrospect, he taught me a good foundation for starting a home of my own, even if ours isn’t quite as tidy.

My own family has put down more roots. Because we don’t move every few months, it’s been much easier to accumulate, well, stuff, and much of it ends up in the vicinity of the hall closet. By virtue of location, usually near one of the home’s entrances, hall coat closets can quickly become the repository of practically everything a family hauls in and out. It’s no small wonder that many of them, including mine, tend to get a little out of hand. c vhomemaga zine .com

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Rick Gumpert, owner of Closet Storage Organizers, has been helping clients get a handle on their closet clutter for 26 years. He says, “When I take an initial consultation with a client, the first thing I ask is, ‘What do YOU see as the problem?’” This thought process helps maximize the closet’s intended purpose. He says that most clients express concern about not having enough hanging space as well as not having adequate room for guests’ coats. But he believes that these issues need to be addressed separately. He says almost every closet can be improved with the use of double, “high-low” hanging rods to increase hanging space. But what about guests’ coats? Gumpert laughs, “We all know that if you are having a party, ALL the coats will wind up on your bed!” In all seriousness, however, he says that a good closet design will easily accommodate a couple of extra coats.

Once you’ve decided that it’s time for a closet makeover, take a cue from Gumpert and decide what is your closet’s true purpose.

Perhaps that means just coats, or likely, depending on space, you’ll want your coat closet to fulfill several storage roles. Make a list of each of the “jobs” you want your coat closet to fulfill.

Coats? Sporting equipment? Cleaning supplies? Be realistic. If it doesn’t all fit in there now, maybe some things will need to be relocated to other areas of your home.

Start with a Clean Slate

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Experts recommend taking everything out of the closet initially so that you can properly measure the dimensions, and also give it a good cleaning. This is a great time to make any necessary repairs: oil the hinges, patch any dings in the walls, replace lighting, maybe even give it a fresh coat of paint. Consider C e n t r a l V i r g i n i a h o m e E a r l y S p r i n g 2 0 1 5

painting the closet interior the same color as the paint on the walls of the room or hall where the closet is located, or even use a complementary or accent color. A new coat of paint provides a fresh, clean backdrop for closet contents.

Next, consider what came out of that closet.

Purge all items that are not on your list. If you’ve decided that your coat closet should house only coats and other outerwear, then find other locations to store the vacuum, pointe shoes, lacrosse sticks, and other detritus that has found its way in there.

Once you have whittled down your closet contents, analyze what you have, and get rid of what you can. In times gone by, most adult coats were long, well below the knees, and older homes generally have coat closets designed to accommodate them with a single hanging bar at eye level. If you are lucky, there may be a shelf above this single bar, presumably for hats, which everyone used to wear every time they went out.

But times have changed. Today’s coats—with the exception of a single dress coat perhaps—are generally shorter, and children’s coats of course are shorter still. Take advantage of shorter lengths by replacing the single eye-level pole with high-low poles that will maximize your hanging space: one pole hung approximately eye level, and the other about 30 inches lower. Voila! Twice the hanging

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Casual...

Who Knew?

Over-the-door shoe holders make great storage for small items such as mittens, scarves, sunscreen or swim goggles. space. Hang adult coats, or those more frequently worn, on the upper pole, and children’s coats (or coats that get less frequent wear) on the lower pole. Unless you have a very large coat closet, plan to switch items in and out with the seasons, putting offseason gear in less-convenient storage elsewhere in your home.

Getting Organized

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Analyze ways that you can make every inch of this premium closet real estate work for you. Over-the-door shoe holders make great storage for small items such as mittens, scarves, sunscreen or swim goggles. Large plastic tubs set underneath the hanging clothes can hold shoes and boots. Hooks or different-sized baskets can be attached to the back of the closet door, or even the inside walls if your closet is deep enough, to hold everything from school bags to car keys in an easy-to-see, easy-to-access way. If you have room, you may want to consider adding built-in shelves. Nowadays there are many options—basic shelving of wood or wire, attractive baskets, and shoe organizer pieces. You can explore closet “systems” at local hardware stores, or opt for the professional help of a carpenter or closet designer who can design and build a system for your specific needs.

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If you are installing shelves, consider using baskets to keep the look uniform.

Ideally baskets will use up all of the shelves’ square footage to maximize space. Consider this handy tip: purchase baskets first, then configure shelves to fit—it’s much easier to build shelves to fit baskets than to spend hours shopping for baskets with the exact dimensions to make the most of your shelf space. Designate and label the baskets, so that all family members know where to put their things. Always keep in mind that items used more frequently need to be the easiest to reach. When you open the door of a wellorganized closet, it should be immediately obvious where you should put your things.

Rick Gumpert agrees. “I can’t make you hang up your coat,” he chuckles, “but I can make it pretty obvious that you should!”

Once that closet is organized, keep it that way! This means running a swift mental checklist as you walk in the door, and putting things in the places you have designated right away. Hang up your coat and keys, send the lacrosse stick up to the player’s bedroom. Have a place for everything and put everything in its place.

It turns out my father’s tight-ship method just may have been wise after all.

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n DESIGN MANTELS

New Year, New Look

Restyle Your Mantel

By K i m F ox

The holiday season is well behind us, and home and hearth are long swept bare of seasonal decorations. A lot of people can get a little blue when they look around after they “un-decorate” from the holidays, but I love the feeling of starting fresh in the new year. If these bare spaces bother you, you might be ready for a new look. An easy place to start without too much commitment could be your fireplace mantel—a blank canvas freshly swept of all holiday trimmings.

If that bare space really bothers you, you might be ready for a new look. An easy place to start without too much commitment could be your fireplace mantel—a blank canvas freshly swept of all holiday trimmings.

Even though decorating trends come and go, there are a few basic elements of design that remain constant when considering this space—one that is often the focal point of the room. Start with the wall over the mantel. This is the place for a statement piece such as original artwork, a clock or a mirror to anchor your arrangement. Now decide what your next layer will be. Consider height and balance of the accessories that you add. The Libra in me likes things balanced; if I have three candlesticks on one side of the mantel, you better believe I will have three on the other side. But you may love asymmetrical arrangements, and that works too. Try different items, different arrangements and even different color schemes. The great thing about styling your mantel is that it is easily changed; other than possibly your central statement piece, you don’t need to make any hefty investments. If you need some post-holiday mantel inspiration, these tips might get you started.

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Repair Before You Restyle

The holidays can take a toll on your furniture and woodwork. While your mantel is bare, take time to do some damage control.

Dried candle wax can discolor wood, so make sure to remove any residue from candles. Fill nail holes, dust crevices and check for places that need repair. Products to restore wood can make your mantel look new again and are relatively easy to use. You might even decide this is the year you stain that oak mantel a dark mahogany or paint it bright white. Whatever your design plans, starting with a clean surface is key.

Celebrate Something Different

Yes, Christmas is over, but that doesn’t mean you have to banish your red candles.

February gives us Valentine’s Day, after all! Try framing black and white photos of you and your loved ones in silver frames.

Group red candles in silver candle sticks among your photographs, or display some flowers in a silver or glass vase to add a fresh element. Whether it’s over the top or super simple, this isn’t a long-term commitment.

Cupid makes an appearance in a couple of weeks, and then it will be time to change things up again.

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Turn It Back

Whether you are partial to Victorian, art deco or mid-century modern, chances are there is a flea market or second-hand store in your neighborhood full of inspiration.

Pieces from the past add instant interest to any room—think candlesticks, decorative boxes, small ceramics and the like. Vintage colors can be incorporated with painted frames or candles—think turquoise and pink from the 50s. If you crave clean and simple lines, mid-century modern might be your kind of style. Typically, these mantels were spare with two or three accessories (usually wood or glass) strategically placed.

Colors from that era were muted tones inspired from nature—burnt orange, teal, olive green—and work nicely with today’s neutral color palettes.

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March brings St. Patrick’s Day, and even if you aren’t a bit Irish, it’s fun to celebrate the Celtic holiday. Small pots of shamrocks from at your local garden center give a nod to all things Irish without painting everything Kelly green. A simple arrangement of three or five (odd numbers work best) 6-inch pots down the center of your mantel is clean, fresh and festive

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Group Therapy

One item on a mantel looks lost, but grouping items instantly makes a statement. Look around your house. More than three like pieces can be considered a collection, so think about what you have that might work as a “grouping.” Look through your kitchen cabinets or storage areas for inspiration. The shells you brought back from the beach would look beautiful in clear vases filled with sand. Group them with wooden candle sticks and white candles for some instant warmth on a winter day. Maybe you have several pieces of hobnail milk glass stashed on the top shelf of your pantry. Pull all the pieces out and play around with an arrangement, placing some of them on a cake pedestal or small stack of books for varying heights. If you are fortunate enough to have inherited your great grandmother’s teapot collection, several might look beautiful on your mantel and may instantly become a conversation starter, too.

Bring the Outdoors In

If freshening up your décor has you stumped, take a cue from nature.

Go for a walk, and don’t forget a basket and some pruning shears.

Gather things as you go; pick up stray pinecones, acorns or twigs, and prune some branches off your evergreens—holly, magnolia, or aucuba make great clippings. Once inside lay everything out on your kitchen table. Gather similar vases or clear glass apothecary jars and start filling them with your finds. The juxtaposition between smooth glass and wood elements can become a beautiful natural theme.

The new year offers a fresh start for many things, including your home décor. Why not start with your fireplace? It may just be the inspiration you need for other projects, too. Now…what about that guest bedroom?

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n GARDEN EARLY SPRING FLOWERS

By A lyssa M ercadant e

During midwinter days, it seems the season will never lose its icy grip. Warm sunshine, buzzing bees and pretty flowers may feel like they are ages away, but believe it or not, now is the time to start thinking about your spring landscaping. To inspire you and carry you through, take a peek at these early spring bloomers—the surest sign that warmer weather is coming. If they aren’t already, soon these flowers will be sprouting their way out of the cold, hard ground to give us all the colorful revival we have been anxiously awaiting. Make note of those that catch your eye, and plan to plant some yourself when your garden is ready!

Lenten Rose

A low-maintenance evergreen, the Lenten rose is actually not a rose at all, but part of the buttercup family. This latewinter/early-spring bloomer is so named because it usually blooms during the season of Lent and features various rosy colors. Its flower petals, which can range from pure white to a deep plum, hang downward like those of a buttercup.

Mature plants can reach heights of 18 to 24 inches, growing in clumps that spread to widths of two to three feet. Once they reach about eight years old, you can expect as many as 100 or more flowers per plant. The Lenten rose is great for beginners; it’s sturdy, drought tolerant, and resistant to deer and voles. The leaves contain bitter-tasting alkaloids, an unpleasant encounter for woodland creatures. While this pest-resistant evergreen plant thrives in shady areas with little maintenance, keep in mind it is slow growing (it takes about four years to mature before it will flower for the first time), so be patient. These beauties will be worth the wait! c vhomemaga zine .com

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Crocus

Crocuses are one of the earliest flowers to bloom, announcing the imminent departure of winter with lovely pink, purple, yellow or white petals. If you haven’t planted this perennial, you are missing out on an early season of delight. From snow crocuses (the first to bloom) to giant Dutch crocuses, these blooms stand out against the bleak late-winter landscape. Many even have strong perfumes that lure bees out of their hives in February or March. Small bulbs like crocus not only provide winter garden color, but they naturalize, meaning they spread on their own and come back year after year—with minimum care—for an ever-larger display. As a bonus, deer, squirrels and rabbits rarely bother these early little bulbs. It’s best to plant crocuses before the ground freezes in the fall. They can be planted almost anywhere, but thrive best in full sun and well-drained soil.

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Daffodils

If easy but showy is what you’re after, daffodils are the way to go. Increasing naturally from year to year, these gorgeous flowers are long-lived, stand up to cold and heat alike, and require virtually no attention after minimal care at the planting stage. They don’t even require summer watering (although they’ll surely accept it). Flowering commences in late winter and early spring, but planting should be done as soon as they are available in the fall. These perennials love to face the sun, and come in yellow, white, orange, pink and even red. Daffodils are suitable for planting between shrubs, in a border or even under high-branching trees. They also look stunning in a woodland garden and in large groves; many gardeners even plant these bulbs by the hundreds. Most types reach 1 to 1-1/2 feet tall and make fine cut flowers. Keep them in a vase of their own, though, since their freshly cut stems release a substance that causes other flower types to wilt. Did you know that these trumpetshaped flowers symbolize friendship?

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One of the most popular spring flowers of all time, and the third most popular worldwide, the tulip is a tried and true favorite amongst the perennials. In fact, there are now over 3,000 different registered varieties of cultivated tulips. Tulip bulbs come in virtually every color under the sun, including a purple so deep that it almost looks black, and are especially fragrant. These sunshine-lovers are excellent in beds and borders, and their stems are great for cutting to use indoors as well. It is best to plant tulip bulbs in the late fall, six to eight weeks before a hard frost is expected and when the soil temperature is below 60 degrees. Water tulips during dry spells only; otherwise, do not water. Tulips prefer to stay dry.

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Forsythia

What better way to announce the return of spring than with sunny splashes of bright, yellow forsythia? These showy shrubs are among nature’s earliest spring bloomers. A member of the olive family, this shrub features slightly bell-shaped blooms that range in color from soft butter yellow to bright, vivid gold. They are extremely fast growing, which means pruning often is a necessity. Other than pruning, these bushes are easy to grow and established plants require little care.

They grow best in full sun to partial shade, and should be fertilized once a year in early spring. Use a high phosphorous fertilizer to promote bright blooms. Forsythia can be used in a variety of ways. They can be placed singly in the yard, left to grow naturally (no upkeep required), or grown as a hedgerow, along foundations in a neat and orderly fashion. Flowers form on the prior year’s growth, not new growth, so it is important to prune them immediately after the flowers have bloomed.

But it’s okay to be aggressive when pruning—they will grow back quickly. If you want to bring some of this deciduous shrub indoors, cut a few branches in late winter to bring into the house. In a week or two, you will be treated to an early dazzling flower bouquet.

With these early-blooming flowers planted around your home, heavy winter spirits are sure to be lifted. As these colorful blooms emerge, we are reminded that spring is on its way.

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n IMPROVE WOOD PANELING 101

What About Wainscoting?

Decoding decorative wood paneling

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By Mit z i B ib l e

Today’s options for wood paneling go way beyond the rec rooms of the 1970s, when ceilingto-floor sheets of oak-looking fiberboard stole the show. Now decorative wood paneling meets homeowners halfway—literally. Lining the bottom portion of a wall with a decorative wood treatment has quickly become a trend. Want to create a fine dining experience in your dining room? Have a bathroom that could use a little splash of style? Need to cook up a new look in the kitchen? Adding decorative paneling could be the most practical way to bring an instant element of design to an otherwise ordinary room, while at the same time protecting walls from scuffs and hiding other imperfections. c vhomemaga zine .com

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One of the best ways to add character to a room is to add wood paneling to the walls. Depending on how you apply it and paint it, wood paneling can add rustic charm, set a formal tone or even give your home an authentic air of history. Painted paneling will make a statement in any color, so don’t limit your paint palette only to white! Looking for something a little more subtle? Colored stains can show off details in the wood and express color in a more subdued way.

Wain-what?

Contractors and manufacturers vary in their use of terms for decorative paneling.

In your local home improvement store, you will often find these products in the molding section (also referred to using the British spelling, moulding), sold along with other types of wood trim for doors and windows. The most popular term you will hear for this half-wall treatment is wainscoting (pronounced with a long or short “o,” by the way), referring to the practice of affixing thin panels of wood to a wall vertically, from the baseboard to chair-rail height, or slightly higher. Derived from a Dutch term for lining a wall, this practice was once used centuries ago for insulation, especially in homes with stone walls where dampness intruded from the ground. But today it has found its way into the realm of interior design, and it appears that it’s here to stay. Now any room in a house can benefit from these traditionally thin wood panels and the 8 0

more modern and even more durable PVC or vinyl waterproof varieties currently available. An entranceway or staircase can instantly become more ornate with square panels that can mimic your door design. A mudroom, washroom, kitchen, or bathroom can benefit from surfaces that are easy to wipe down. From plain slats to artistic designs and coordinating trim, a plain dining room, den, office, or library can be transformed into an elaborate room you won’t mind showing off to guests.

With the use of wainscoting, you can truly make your walls one-of-a-kind. Try to start your project and you will see there are a lot more decisions to make than you thought. Even under the umbrella term of wainscoting, you’ll find “raised panel wainscoting,” “beadboard,” and “batten” for instance. But what do these terms mean and where should you use them?

We’ll give you a quick rundown and show you ways wainscoting can enhance any room in your home.

Beadboard

Beadboard is characterized by its narrow panels, usually 2 to 4 inches wide, with tongue-and-groove connections and a thin “bead” strip (a rounded line) disguising the joints in between. Like other types of wood paneling, you can find this product in sheets (4 by 8 feet and 4 by 4 feet that are already sanded, primed, painted, and ready to install. It can also come in six-pack kits of about 7.5 inch-wide sections made of moistureresistant MDF (fiberboard) or cellular PVC. Beadboard is most often used at chair-rail height (about 4 feet from the floor) and works well in close quarters, such as hallways, laundry rooms and utility spaces, lending texture and interest without commanding too much space and attention. Because PVC beadboard shrugs off water, it is a great choice for a tub surround. Some people have even installed PVC board in children’s rooms for the durability it provides during those years when your walls can take the C e n t r a l V i r g i n i a h o m e E a r l y S p r i n g 2 0 1 5

DESIGN IDEAS ■ Buck

the bottom-half rule and top the upper half of your wall with board and batten.

■ P lank

it: go horizontal with beadboard in the bathroom.

■ U se

chair-rail height wainscoting on the bedroom walls until you reach the bed, then bring it up high above the headboard to nicely frame the bed.

■ F or

a rustic look, use wainscoting to create a barndoor (criss-cross) panel over beadboard.

■ W ith

raised or recessed paneling, the squares become their own frames—for fabric, wallpaper or even ceiling tiles.

most beating. For the same reason, you can even think “off the wall” and wrap a kitchen bar or island in beadboard. Kits come with easy installation instructions, requiring application of an adhesive and using only a few nails to hold panels in place during the work.

Board and Batten

This type of treatment involves planks laid vertically on the wall that can alternate with separate, narrower strips to cover the joints. The look can also be achieved by simply placing vertical planks on the wall itself, topped by a flat chair rail. There seem to be no hard-and-fast rules for this style, just equal distances between planks (although if you’re going for a farmhouse/rustic feel, installing them at random could work).

You will sometimes see board and batten in two levels: vertical planks, a rail, then a row of shorter vertical planks on top and another top rail. Board and batten can run higher up the wall (and even to the ceiling) and is sometimes finished with a cap rail wide enough to serve as a display shelf.

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DIY TIPS AND TRICKS ■ P aint

or stain all molding before cutting or installing (unless you also plan to paint the walls and trim the same color).

■

Always double-check your measurements.

■ I f

you are right handed, start from the left corner of the room, or vice versa.

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■ A sk

yourself how permanent you want the project to be, as this may determine how involved you get, and whether you use nails or glue adhesive, which could damage your drywall if you decide to take it down.

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Paneled Wainscot

You will most likely find this type of woodwork in foyers, lining a staircase, or in dining rooms, as it is often used in more formal areas where you will want stand back and admire it. Square or rectangle panels, built like picture frames, can be affixed right on the wall, with decorative chair rails and baseboards to match. Pieces of molding can be combined to construct this series of “boxes” along the bottom half of a wall.

There is no shortage of online tutorials to teach you how to build your own panels out of molding, or you can buy plywood with panels that are already beveled, or recessed. Shaker style remains popular with panel wainscoting, using simple vertical rails spaced equal distances apart to create a very clean look. With rail molding coming in so many different woods—pine, oak, poplar, maple, to name a few—and in stain-grade or paint-grade, you can achieve the formal or casual look in any room.

If you intend to install this paneling yourself, it certainly comes in handy to have some training in using a miter saw. But a skilled craftsman should be able to create the look you desire, and it may be worth it to hire one to make all the different parts work together.

Now that you know some of the terms and have a few ideas, perhaps you won’t find yourself up against a wall when it comes to wainscoting—or actually, perhaps you will.

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A Forever Home

Stylish home improvements for aging in place

BY Laur el F ein m an P h ot o g r a p hy by KG T hi e n e m a nn

As far as Martha Campbell is concerned, William Shakespeare was spot-on when he wrote, “People usually are the happiest at home.” Martha grew up in Lynchburg’s Richland Hills neighborhood and hopes she and her husband Dave can live there forever. In fact, it’s a desire so strong that they recently completed a two-phase home renovation she calls “The Five-Year Plan.” Every detail in the plan was made with “aging in place” in mind.

Martha jokes, “It all started because one day Dave wondered aloud if we should paint the kitchen cabinets.” But the truth is, the Campbells had actually been thinking about renovating their home for a while. As Martha watched her mother take comfort in being able to live independently in her own home during her final years, Martha knew that she would also want to be able to do that—and that making plans for it should happen sooner, rather than later. c vhomemaga zine .com

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As they thought about their home, they tried to project into the future and consider what their life and mobility will be like as they age. They studied their home’s layout to search for areas where improvements could be made. Their top priorities were to create unobstructed pathways throughout the lower level and to make prudent safety and accessibility modifications throughout the home—and to do it without sacrificing style.

In 2009, the Campbells hired local builder Gary Ward to complete phase one of the plan: improving the overall flow downstairs and updating the kitchen.

Martha explains that the old kitchen and 8 6

dining room were two dead-end rooms off the central hallway and living room.

Ward widened the doorway between the kitchen and hallway and gave the kitchen a more stately appearance by adding crown molding and new trim work throughout. He also added paneled doors on the closets and hall bath and widened the opening to the kitchen.

Besides being attractive, these tweaks also made the hallway passable for wheelchairs or walkers if Martha or Dave ever need those devices in the future.

Next, Ward removed two dining room walls and installed beams to support the upper floor of the Campbells’ story-and-

a-half home. In so doing, the backside of the home, once boxed in by walls, became a large, L-shaped space—an extension of the living room connected to the kitchen.

The new space has abundant windows and backyard views of the well-manicured lawn, which Dave tends himself. Martha has arranged her interior décor to define the new open floor plan into zones. Situated at the far end of the living room is her home office.

A cheerful sitting area occupies the space that was formerly the dining room.

The area is large enough that it can also be set up to function as a dining room C e n t r a l V i r g i n i a h o m e E a r l y S p r i n g 2 0 1 5

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The alleyway between the appliances and cabinets is wide enough for a wheelchair or walker to navigate it, and the countertops are installed at a universally accessible height.

engaged IN LIFE

when Martha hosts seated dinners. Martha says she doesn’t think of it as “losing the dining room” but rather, as daily functional space that she’s gained. She says, “We only used the dining room a few times a year, but we use this new space every day.”

Ward, along with the craftsmanship of cabinet builder Jim Rader, transformed the old galley kitchen into a large, square-shaped room with thick white marble countertops, white painted cabinets and nickel hardware. Ward and Rader included several forward-thinking accessibility features in the new design. The alleyway between the appliances and cabinets is wide enough for a wheelchair or walker to navigate it, and the countertops are installed at a universally accessible height. Even the hinges and internal cabinet hardware help make the kitchen barrier-free: the doors open and tuck back into the cabinetry, and all the drawers are outfitted with self-closing mechanisms.

Martha’s go-to electrician, Vance Driskill, had just finished installing lighting in the new display cases at the Fink’s store in Forest and suggested that they illuminate the glass-paned display cabinets on each side of the sink with vertically-installed stick lighting, which gives an even light effect on each shelf. The discreet low-profile LED lights under the cabinets provide dimmable task lighting on the countertops and highlight Martha’s collectibles. But, the new task lighting isn’t just attractive, it’s another safety feature to improve visibility in the kitchen.

Robert F. Hicks Inc. Floor Sanding and Refinishing replaced the old linoleum kitchen floor with hardwood, meticulously blending them with the existing wood floors in the hallway and the old dining room. Martha says, “You can’t tell where the old floors end and the new ones begin because of his masterful eye for matching stain.” Knowing about Martha’s five-year plan, Hicks advised that when phase two was complete, he’d return to refinish all the wood floors downstairs.

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Phase Two

After the first phase was complete, the Campbells waited a few years before tackling their next major project. They were contemplating turning the two seldom-used downstairs bedrooms into what Martha calls “a master suite in waiting,” but they weren’t in a rush to do it.

Suddenly, plans flew into motion—all because of social media.

Martha explains, “One of my Facebook friends posted that her husband [a carpenter] was available for work during the holiday season. I needed a few little things done around the house and figured I’d call him.”

It was the beginning of a symbiotic working relationship between the Campbells and Jeff Keeling, who Martha says had a knack for intuitively knowing exactly what she had in mind. A job to complete a few handyman tasks turned into the Campbells’ next major home renovation. They knew Keeling understood what they wanted to accomplish and felt that he had the right skills and craftsman’s touch to complete the job.

Keeling removed the wall between the bedrooms to create one large room. For visual interest, he added a handsome tray ceiling and classical details on the trim work around the new oversized doorway. The Campbells use their new room as a den, but someday the sofa and other den furniture could make way for bedroom furniture if the stairway to their upstairs master bedroom becomes too challenging to climb.

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During the renovation, Keeling expanded and updated the bathroom with new fixtures, new cabinets, a large curbless tile shower and new marble countertops from Spectrum Stone Design.

Troy Patterson did the tile work, and all the fixtures came from Ferguson Bath, Kitchen and Lighting Gallery. True to his word, after the completion of phase two, Robert Hicks returned to sand, stain and polyurethane the hardwoods throughout the main floor. Martha says, “These 50-year-old floors look brand new again.”

Martha didn’t want to have to wait until “someday” to start using the glamorous, spa-like new bathroom. She has claimed it as her own and enjoys it every day. Should the Campbells ever encounter mobility issues, everything in the new bathroom is designed to be accessible and safe.

Due to their forethought and careful planning, the modifications the Campbells have made to their home will make it possible for them to live there for many more years, in both safety and style.

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n LIVE COLOR REPORT

Green! Neutral no longer means beiges, creams, whites and grays. Soft green will start to be seen more and more as a neutral color. Additionally, bright jewel tones like lime and turquoise will be found in more than just accessories—I’ve already had multiple clients ask for bold green wall colors in their kitchens, bathrooms and foyers. I love bright, vibrant colors and have been thrilled with the demand for these statement colors!”

– Sarah Girten,

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The Design Center at James T Davis

C e n t r a l V i r g i n i a h o m e E a r l y S p r i n g 2 0 1 5

What’s the Color of the Year?

It depends who you ask!

BY Laur el F ein m an

Each winter, various “authorities on color” declare the new must-have hues for the year ahead. Their selections are based on survey results from trend watchers, consumers, retailers, pop culture and fashion industry insiders.

These colors often edge their way into our homes, closets and cosmetic bags. Many are being tossed around as “THE” color of the year for 2015, ranging from sage green, to powder pink, to cerulean blue (that distinctive shade of blue most of us learned when Andie, the fish-out-of-water intern in the movie The Devil Wears Prada, received a tongue-lashing about it).

So, what’s a stylish shopper to do?

Perhaps George Bernard Shaw said it best: “A fashion is nothing but an induced epidemic.”

This year, let’s agree to be fashion-conscious without becoming a slave to it. In other words, we’ll decide for ourselves, thankyouverymuch.

We asked several in-the-know style mavens in Central Virginia what they’re seeing as the most preferred colors in local fashion and home décor. Here’s what they have to say: They say that part of the selection process [of choosing a color of the year] has to do with the effect that color has on people and choosing colors that are an expression of the current ‘feeling’ in the world. The majority of my clients are drawn to shades of blue and bluish-green color palettes— those colors bring feelings of calm and serenity into a home.

But I also have several clients interested in using a rich, classic red!”

– Kathy Potts, Decorating Den Interiors c vhomemaga zine .com

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I’ve noticed there seem to be two distinct color palettes for the upcoming year.

One is neutral and soft, and the other is strong and bold. The neutral palette uses shades of cream, beige, white, metallics and pastels. The bold palette features strong shades of purple, turquoise and lime. While seemingly opposite, these two palettes can work well together, both in a wardrobe and a home, by using the neutrals as the base and adding boldly colored accessories.”

– Debra McCabe, The Columns

PANTONE

Color of the Year 2015

MARSALA PANTONE 18-1438

We’ve noticed many of our clients are gravitating toward a lovely, soothing neutral palette accented with pops of blue ranging in undertones from teal to blue-gray. White and other neutrals are prevalent colors, seen everywhere from kitchen cabinetry, bathroom shower curtains, drapes, and bedding. Blue is a classic color that can be incorporated in a variety of ways, whether you want to use it to make a huge impact or use bits and pieces brought in with pillows, window treatments or other accessories. I think blue paired with white and neutrals meld well together and can be brought into any home, no matter what your décor style!”

– Ashley Hilbish, Curtains, Blinds and Bath

I think soft pastels will make a comeback in 2015—barely there blues and pinks on walls, furniture and soft goods. I can see these soft colors paired with rich metallics and textures to achieve real balance in a room. Neutrals are always a mainstay when designing a home. Clean palettes of whites to tans offer an open book of possibilities to use richer, bolder colors like earthier reds and acidic blues as a contrast to create a signature look and feel.”

– Dianne Mowry, Yellow Door Interiors 9 6

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According to [what I’ve seen on] social media, the color of the year is ‘marsala.’ I am crazy about this spicy, Spanish red and think it adds a wonderful punch to a neutral palette of cream, beige and grey. Another color I’m obsessed with is the color of our front room here at the store—we call it peacock blue. It is fabulous paired with varying shades of aquas, teals and lime greens.”

– Kelly Mortemousque, The Silver Thistle

resource gallery

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Pastels! Though not all colors can be incorporated easily into a woman’s wardrobe because of complexion and hair color, I think it’s safe to say that soft pinks, soft blues and soft greens will be seen along with shimmery silvers this spring and summer. I believe shoppers will have lots to choose from to find the pastel shade that complements them best and be on trend.”

– Renee Wood, Gladiola Girls

It seems that there’s no right or wrong answer to the question, “What’s the color of the year?” The opportunities to color your world are endless—even if you start with basic beige! Whether the colors that speak to you are muted or bold, you can find a balanced color palette that brings harmony to your home. c vhomemaga zine .com

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n INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

HOME CENTRAL

DESIGN

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IMPROVE

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VIRGINIA

GARDEN

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LIVE

Accents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Allegra Studios . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Alpaca by Jaca. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Bank of the James . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Blanchette Orthodontics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Blickenstaff & Company Realtors. . . . . . . . . 57 Bowen Jewelry Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Boxley. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Brenda Moore, Realtor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Buy Local Lynchburg. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Centra Medical Group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Centra Home Health. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Centra Hospice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

Foster Fuels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Pinnacle Cabinetry & Design. . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Givens Books and Little Dickens. . . . . . . . . . 31

Rainfrost Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

Gladiola Girls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

ReputationExplosion.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

Gordon T. Cudd Construction Inc.. . . . . . . . 26

Riley Dental. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Grand Home Furnishings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Robert Dawson, Realtor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Head and Neck Surgery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

RM Gantt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Henderson’s Furniture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Select Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Human Kind. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 Iron and Grace. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Isabella’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 James River Day School. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 James T. Davis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Judy Frantz, Realtor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Karen Hall, Realtor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Kitchen and Bath Ideas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Sentry Exteriors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 Sidney B. Allen Jr. Builder, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . 13 Simply Clean by Stacy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Smith Mountain Building Supply . . . . . . . . . 23 Southern Air. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Southern Landscape Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99 Spectrum Stone Design. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Summit Mortgage Corporation. . . . . . . . . . . 30

Land Tech Group of Virginia. . . . . . . . . . . . 100 Taqueria Tradicional. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Liberty Christian Academy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Terrell E. Moseley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Lou’s Auto Repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 The Cabinet Gallery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Centra PACE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Lynchburg City Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Central Virginia Orthodontics . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Lynchburg Dental Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

The Canning Shed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Children’s Dentistry & Orthodontics of Lynchburg. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

Lynchburg Regional Airport. . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Cindy Bryant (Mary Kay) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Lynchburg Retail Merchants Association . . 30, 31

CLC Incorporated. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Mable Hamlette-Franklin (Mary Kay Cosmetics). 97

Confluence Outfitters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Mad Biddy’s. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Cornerstone Cabinets & Design. . . . . . . . . . 25

Magnolia Foods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Curtains, Blinds & Bath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Monogram Love. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

Custom Structures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Nadine Blakely, Realtor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Dawson Ford Garbee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

National Pools of Roanoke, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . 35

Warinner Restoration and Preservation Services. 97

Decorating Den Interiors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Outtasight Window Tinting/Vehicle Wrap. . . . 11

Wellington Builders, Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

Embrace Home Loans - Lynchburg. . . . . . . . 69

PIP Printing and Marketing Services. . . . . . . 30

Westminster Canterbury. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Farm Basket. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40, 76, 91

Peridontal Health Associates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Window and Door Design Gallery . . . . . . . . 23

Ferguson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

Perry Pools and Spas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Wired Up Electrical. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

Fink’s. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Persian Rugs & More. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Yellow Door Interiors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Flint Property Group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Piedmont Eye Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

9 8

The Columns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 The Little Gallery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 The Silver Thistle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 The Summit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 The Vinyl Porch Rail Company. . . . . . . . . . . 17 Tucker Hosting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 Virginia Vein Specialists. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

C e n t r a l V i r g i n i a h o m e E a r l y S p r i n g 2 0 1 5

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