ROANOKE VALLEY HOME Magazine 2022 Feb/Mar

HOME R OA N O K E VA L L E Y

design ✦ improve ✦ garden ✦ live

Dreamy Design WINDOW DRESSING KITCHEN UPDATES

PAINT TRENDS PERSONALIZED INTERIORS Get Centered DIGITAL ORGANIZATION SLEEP HAVENS

EARLY SPRING 2022

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Cell Phone 276.224.4363 Roanoke County, South Roanoke City Alicia White-Braxton NMLS #604201

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CONTENTS Roanoke Valley HOME Early Spring 2022

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73 19

PAINT TRENDS Find the perfect palette to update your interiors

BY KENDALL ATKINS LIVICK

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CATCHING YOUR ZZZS Adopt best sleep habits for your ultimate well-being

BY RORY RHODES

52 Cover photo courtesy of Sherwin Williams FACEBOOK: HOME Magazine INSTAGRAM: @homemagva

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COOL AND COLLECTED Traditional meets modern in these artful interiors

BY NOELLE MILAM

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WINDOW DRESSING Incorporating window treatments for the best effect

BY CHRISTY RIPPEL

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E A R LY S PR I NG 2022

DESIGN

45

36 RANGE HOODS

Function meets beauty in kitchen design

BY JANE RENNYSON

79 STORIED INTERIORS

Using your treasures to add character

BY AMELIA POORE

IMPROVE

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45 KNIVES OUT

Buying and caring for kitchen knives

BY SLOANE LUCAS

61 “HOW DO I … ?”

Easy home repairs you can do yourself

BY PAULA PETERS CHAMBERS

64 FRONT-PORCH STYLE

How to create a welcoming entrance

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BY MARGIE LIPPARD

GARDEN

30 THE BUZZ ON BEE HOUSES

How to host pollinators in your yard

BY KATHERINE FULGHUM KNOPF

70 YOUR VASE COLLECTION

Choosing the right vessel for the right flower

BY ANNE ELISE HASTINGS

LIVE

26 CELEBRATE!

Hosting a birthday party for any age

BY MEGAN WILLIAMS

48 DIGITAL DECLUTTER

How to organize your cyberlife

BY JESSIE THOMPSON

67 A WINTER-TO-SPRING MENU

Delicious foods help bridge the seasons

BY SARAH NICHOLAS

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READERS’ FAVORITES AWARDS 2021

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R o a n o ke Va l l e y H O M E E a r l y S p r i n g 2 0 2 2

The best returns are more than financial At RBC Wealth Management, our experienced financial advisors are dedicated to helping you achieve your unique financial goals. We accomplish this by understanding what’s important to you and delivering the customized strategies and attentive service you deserve.

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Eddie Link Managing Director – Financial Advisor Senior Portfolio Manager – Portfolio Focus Forbes Magazine Best-In-State Wealth Advisor in Virginia 2018–2021 Bradley Blum Senior Vice President – Financial Advisor Senior Portfolio Manager – Portfolio Focus

Mike Kemp Managing Director – Financial Advisor Senior Portfolio Manager – Portfolio Focus Forbes Magazine Best-In-State Wealth Advisor in Virginia 2018–2021 Allison Link, CRPS® Financial Advisor

The Meridian Group 110 Franklin Road SE, Suite 400 | Roanoke, VA 24011 (540) 404-6601 | us.rbcwm.com/meridiangroup Investment and insurance products: • Not insured by the FDIC or any other federal government agency • Not a deposit of, or guaranteed by, the bank or an affiliate of the bank • May lose value Source: Forbes.com America’s Top Wealth Advisors: State-By-State ranking was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person and telephone due diligence meetings and a ranking algorithm that includes: client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, including: assets under management and profitability. For more information: www.SHOOKresearch.com. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients and is not indicative of this advisor’s future performance. The financial advisor does not pay a fee to be considered for or to receive this award. © 2022 RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC, registered investment adviser and Member NYSE/FINRA/SIPC.

22-VR-00024 (01/22)

LOCAL EDITOR’S note Each month of the year feels to me like a certain color: January is icy clear blue, for obvious reasons. April is a vibrant hibiscus pink ripe with the promise of the warmth and colors of spring. However, February feels like deep violet red to me. Even with the cold outside, February exudes the warm colors of hearts and velvety red roses and decadent dark chocolate.

The new year brings new trends in home decor and design. The new “it” colors of the year are much anticipated and HOME divulges the latest and greatest color trends for 2022 in this issue. Spoiler alert: hope you like green! It might be time to think about new window treatments. Pick your poison: drapes, valances or shades? Do you want privacy or filtered light? Local interior design professionals talk about what’s new as well as what’s classic in window dressing.

Adulting can be fun! Adult birthday parties can be unadulterated fun—we’ll show you how to make the most of that next milestone birthday celebration for adults only. In spite of your New Year’s resolutions—or because of them—adulting usually requires a certain amount of organization. There is no time like the present to get things in order.

HOME targets digital organization in this issue—it might just be the organization you didn’t know you needed!

Front door decor is easy if there is a holiday. But what to do to your entrance during the holiday shoulder seasons? Keep your entryway warm and inviting with new ideas that welcome friends and neighbors the year round. Next, up your DIY know-how with tips and instruction on fixing a leaky faucet, installing a light fixture and more. Your can-do confidence will soar!

Roanoke Valley HOME is excited to bring you another year full of fresh design, garden and home improvement ideas and tips. Make 2022 the year you live the life you love in full color!

Thank you for reading, Anne Marie Poore annemarie@westwillowpublishing.com

HOME ROANOKE VALLEY

VOLUME 15 ISSUE 1 PUBLISHER Julie Pierce EDITOR Meridith Ingram ART DIRECTOR Edwana Coleman LOCAL EDITOR Anne Marie Poore

FEATURE HOME CONTRIBUTOR Noelle Milam CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Paula Peters Chambers Anne Elise Hastings Katherine Fulghum Knopf Margie Lippard Kendall Atkins Livick Sloane Lucas Noelle Milam Sarah Nicholas Amelia Poore Jane Rennyson Rory Rhodes Christy Rippel Jessie Thompson Megan Williams PHOTOGRAPHER Kathryn Feldmann GRAPHIC DESIGNER Donna Collins OPERATIONS MANAGER Marianne Schatvet ADVERTISING SALES Julia Belvin Lisa Bowers Anne Marie Poore SUBSCRIPTIONS Roanoke Valley HOME is published five times annually by West Willow Publishing Group, LLC. For an annual subscription, please send $20 and your name, address and telephone number to: Roanoke Valley HOME 2003 Graves Mill Road, Suite B, Forest, VA 24551 For advertising information please call (434) 386-5667 or sales@westwillowpublishing.com. To discuss coverage of an event relating to home or garden, please contact Roanoke Valley HOME at info@westwillowpublishing.com.

WEST WILLOW PUBLISHING GROUP, LLC (434) 386-5667 westwillowpublishing.com

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Copyright 2022 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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WHAT’S TRENDING IN PAINT COLORS

for 2022

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B Y K E N DA L L AT K I N S L I V I C K

hat paint trends will tempt your eyeballs and tickle your fancy in the year to come? With nods to nature, nostalgia and coziness, the 2022 color palettes across major paint brands offer a great deal of versatility. Here, we’ve gathered palettes from Behr, Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore and PPG Paints so that you can pick and choose to form a preference palette of your very own. Taking into account trends that are both varied and flexible yet classic, the hues of 2022 can be used in virtually any room of the house.

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Last year, tranquility was the name of the game. After the whirlwind of 2020, we yearned for solace on the home front. It came as no surprise that the 2021 palette included nature colors, homey comfort and sunbaked hues to remind us that home is a place of safety and rest. The colors of 2022 extend the mood with some enhanced and additional themes, along with an added nudge of expansive possibility. The palettes this year aren’t a far bridge from last year. Lots of timeless anchoring colors remain, as do the stark linen whites and warm earthy clay tones. Greige (the combination of gray and beige) is still a mainstay and a suggestion that color is never one dimension.

Newer popular palettes now incorporate some fun berry and wildflower hues into the mix, offering up a countryside feel. The “cottage-core” style, which has been on trend for the past couple of years, created a yearning for more of these natural, deep reds.

With the emergence of prairie fashion and the resurgence of Venetian textures, like plaster walls and terrazzo flooring, the stage is set for passionate pinks and deep burgundies.

Another notable change is that we now move from yellows to greens as the top trending colors of the year. One of Pantone’s 2021 colors of the year, Illuminating, was a bright and happy yellow. This is quite a bright contrast to the cooler and more R o a n o ke Va l l e y H O M E E a r l y S p r i n g 2 0 2 2

earthy sage greens featured across major paint brands for 2022. In terms of color psychology, it’s possible that we need less of a sunny boost this year. Perhaps we are now ready to settle in and roll onward and upward with the punches of life right as it unfolds.

Green, and specifically sage green, is a color that seems to come in and out of vogue. This color, which is associated with tranquility, inspiration, liveliness and grounded well-being, is also thought to make a home more attractive to potential buyers when on the market.

This could be because the eye is receptive to calming colors found in nature.

Kermit the Frog famously said, “It isn’t easy being green.” Be that as it may, it certainly is easy in 2022 for the rooms of your house to be green. Even easier is to turn to any of the top paint brands and simply choose a “color of the year.”

They’re all—you guessed it—a shade of green. Ranging from warm yellow undertones, to neutral olive, to natureinspired sage and cool mint, looking at this spectrum, you’ll understand that there’s no one-size-fits all for green.

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Whites and neutrals will always be “in,” and these timeless shades stun to an even greater degree when paired with the trending greens and other top colors of 2022. From smoky cool, to creamy warm, and even dancing on the edge of buttery, whites and neutrals can run the gamut and set the stage for all kinds of moods. Whether opting for boho, coastal, farmhouse, or any other decor, you can’t go wrong with these classic choices. Here are some top favorites of the pros: Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace: This hue is about as true white as you can get, with the intensity falling right in the middle between cool and warm. Chantilly Lace is the perfect choice for a living room wall, existing as a stark backdrop to statement pieces and boldly colored furniture.

Sherwin-Williams Snowbound: Perfect for rooms that get quite a bit of traffic and clock a lot of time spent within, this soft and subtle shade is noted for its versatility with light. Whether day or night, artificial or natural, casting from lamps or overhead fixtures, the light source looks stellar against the whiteness of this paint.

Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee: This warm offwhite is versatile with any aesthetic and pairs with all accent colors and textures.

You will never need to change this paint color, as it’s been used since the dawn of the day. When in need of a change, switch up accents and other sources of color like furniture and art. This primary color is a winner and a staple.

Behr Irish Mist: The warm undertones of this light “greige” lets us in on a little secret that color doesn’t always know what it wants to be. Sometimes it flirts with the line between two or more shades, and in doing so, it launches a playfulness that inspires us to use it for whatever wall suits our desire, while pairing it with whatever makes our heart sing.

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BR E E Z E WAY

BEHR hopes to inspire you to “embrace a sense of renewal and to explore new hobbies or adventures, both near and far, that excite,” according to their website.

BEHR’s color of the year is BREEZEWAY, which is a minty, cool bluish-green color, with an easy-breezy coastal feel that whispers permission to blow with the wind.

Other colors in the palette include: Whisper White, Sunwashed Brick, Nightingale Gray, Perfect Penny, Lingonberry Punch, Studio Clay, Basswood, Wild Mustang, Corn Stalk, Sustainable, Laurel Tree, Wave Top, Explorer Blue, Ocean Abyss, Lunar Surface, After Rain, Dark Cobalt Blue and Cracked Pepper.

With the 2022 palette, inhabitants of the home are encouraged to step into the unknown and move forward. Let’s let go of what no longer serves, lighten the load, and dare to dream of what could be.

In keeping with the spirit of progress, SHERWIN-WILLIAMS wants to remind us that “nothing is permanent; all is everchanging.” With four separate color palettes, we are urged to embrace novelty and evolution through a creative process that is specific to our lens of the world.

EVERGREEN FOG is the Sherwin-Williams choice for color of the year. As part of the Method palette, this shade is imbued with strong gray undertones and a timeless feel. Although technically green, this color is neutral enough that you can paint it on your living room walls, embracing a top trend while still playing it safe.

The Method palette encourages us to embrace a unique process of creation that is personal to us with “organic neutrals.”

Other colors in the Method palette include: Accessible Beige, Urbane Bronze, Über Umber, Woven Wicker, Soji White, Chartreuse, Bakelite Gold and Beige.

R o a n o ke Va l l e y H O M E E a r l y S p r i n g 2 0 2 2

BEHR

Timeless Whites

Roanoke

SHERWIN-WILLIAMS

With the Opus palette, we use our personal creative process to “set the tone for a masterpiece” with bold anchoring colors. The Opus palette includes: Cocoa Whip, Garret Gray, Iron Ore, Aleutian, Coral Clay, Naval, Samovar Silver, Red Bay and Blackberry.

Moving onto the Dreamland palette, we engage in the act of creation—a culmination of flourishing ideas, personified by “pearlescent tones, new-growth greens, and lavish pinks.” The Dreamland palette includes: Rose Tan, Natural Linen, High Reflective White, Rosemary, Felted Wool, Cucuzza Verde, Lite Lavender, Rosé and Dynamo.

With the Ephemera palette, we enjoy the fruits of our labor and dabble in playfulness with “pops of color, softened with time,” as we hark back to “vintage charm and vibrant optimism.” The Ephemera palette includes: Alabaster, Pink Shadow, Sierra Redwood, Peace Yellow, Inky Blue, Cascades, Moody Blue, Basque Green and Rejuvenate.

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Pantone’s Color of the Year

BENJAMIN MOORE

BENJAMIN MOORE tells us to “make room for creativity.” While many of the palettes of the other brands offer standalone colors, Benjamin Moore delivers on a palette of choices that are very complementary with one another on the color wheel. Representing a blossoming flower, they can work in tandem to establish continuity throughout the room and even the entire home.

The color of the year, OCTOBER MIST, is a silvery green, reminiscent of the “stem of a flower.” Benjamin Moore hopes that your imagination will bloom as you decide how to incorporate the other flowery tints.

Other colors in the 2022 palette include: Steam, Morning Dew, High Park, Gloucester Sage, Pale Moon, Hint of Violet, Farmwood Green, Quiet Moments, Mysterious, Collector’s Item, Natural Linen, Venetian Portico and Wild Flower.

Creativity here seems to refer to the marriage of imaginative energy and the slow, quiet diligence of nature.

In December 2021, Pantone revealed the much-anticipated color of the year for 2022: VERY PERI. Each year, a Pantone Color Institute global team of experts scours the worlds of art, music, fashion, social media imagery, trending interior design texture, and cultural attitudes and moods.

“Newness” and “futuristic” are the buzzwords of 2022, according to the Pantone Institute, and Very Peri honors these values.

As a member of the blue family, but with vibrant red undertones, Very Peri is a polarity in color and symbolic as a “global Zeitgeist of the moment and the transition we’re in,” as we emerge from a period of intense isolation, according to Pantone’s website. It encourages us to reimagine what life could be and rewrite a future as we step into the unknown.

Moving on from the abstract psychology of the color to the concrete specifics of the shade, Very Peri is the epitome of versatility. It combines well with a slew of color palettes and completely changes the mood, depending on its pairings.

Paint your walls in Very Peri in 2022 if you’d like to surrender to the unknown and embrace a landscape of endless possibilities.

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Silver Service, Wistful Walk, Peace, Edamame and Yellow Coneflower.

Lastly, the Inspired palette, infused with “optimism and joy,” includes: Paris Pink, Isle Royale, River Rouge, Atrium White, Coral Silk, Cenote, Mirabella, Chilled Mint, Aloha, Calypso Berry, Lettuce Alone and Light Sage.

PPG blends up an alchemical concoction of everything the 2022 psyche needs— positivity for our mindset, joy for our present experiences (flaws and all), a comfortable remembrance of the past, and a bright hope for the future.

PPG

PPG’S offerings “brighten any space with an organic liveliness” and a desire to make you feel soothed and refreshed with colors of the natural world, consisting of three different palettes.

OLIVE SPRIG is the color of the year. In using it, we can tip our hat to nature and remind ourselves of regrowth and resilience in a world that continues to turn round and overcome challenges.

The Invaluable palette, invoking “nostalgia for comfort and reassurance,” also includes: Oyster Shell, Gooseberry, Onyx, Ancient Copper, Vining Ivy, Intrigue, Candlelit Beige, Oceania, Winter’s Breath, Guacamole, Castle Stone, Ancestral and Antiquity.

The Introspective palette, which embodies a “welcoming and warm” vibe, includes: Lotus Petal, Imagine, Carrot Cake, Magic Wand, Pine Whisper, Bunrt Red, Tea Time,

Embrace the 2022 colors that fill your home with the aliveness of nature, the passion and raw emotion of humanity, and the unpredictable evolution of this windy path we’re all traversing. ✦ OL I V E SPR IG

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LIVE birthday celebration

Birthday Wishes, Festive Dishes

HOW TO CELEBRATE ANY BIRTHDAY AT ANY AGE

BY MEGAN WILLIAMS

When we’re younger, birthdays are a dream. There’s cake, games, and plenty of toys, and, at the end of it all, someone else cleans it all up! As we get older, we run the risk of birthdays feeling more like a hassle. Everyone is busy enough as it is; Aren’t birthday parties a bit too indulgent for an adult?; What would we even serve or how will I keep everyone entertained?

But adult birthdays can be just as fun and festive as they were when you were younger! Whether you’re planning a shindig for yourself, or throwing a party for a friend or loved one, here are a few tricks to help ensure the party is a success.

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R o a n o ke Va l l e y H O M E E a r l y S p r i n g 2 0 2 2

Party themes

The first step in planning a memorable birthday party is deciding if you’ll have a theme, and what that theme will be.

Themes are optional for a birthday party, and deciding to embrace one is really based on the guests you’ll have. For example, if the guest list is a small gathering of close friends and family, the company and conversation is generally enough to keep the party going. If the guest list is a bit larger, however, and you’ll be intermingling different friend and family groups who don’t know each other well, a theme can help unite the group and keep the momentum going.

In choosing a theme, consider one that isn’t too specific or niche to the guest of honor so that others can join the fun.

Decades parties—either the decade the person was born, a decade representing the birthday honoree’s teenage years, or a popular era like the Roaring 20s—are always an easy way to involve guests. Have them come in era-appropriate attire and keep the music of the decade flowing. Or, involve guests in a masquerade or Mardi Gras party theme. Encourage them to dress on theme, and deck your space with beads, masks and other festive decorations.

Speaking of decorations, what if you don’t follow a theme?

There are a few must-haves for a perfect party. Flowers and candles will liven up a space instantly and impart a festive feel.

Balloons are also perfect for setting the mood; they can be clear or monochromatic and elegant, or multi-colored and whimsical, depending on the vibe you’re hoping to achieve. Also make sure the guest of honor is celebrated in every way, including the decorations. Set up a board full of photos of them, ranging from r vhomemagazine.com

childhood to today. Pepper framed photos of them with friends and family around all of the tables. Or even give them an extra surprise of custom-made confetti printed with photos of their face!

Activities

The benefit of having a birthday party theme is that they generally offer built-in entertainment. For example, if you host a Mardi Gras party, your guests will have a blast donning masks and sipping on New Orleans-inspired cocktails. If you’re hosting a decade party, guests will take a journey down memory lane. But even if you choose not to have a theme, there are plenty of activities to incorporate.

Birthday party activities work best when they are optional. If guests are simply enjoying the party and the conversation, they don’t have to join the game. However, if you have guests who are a bit shy or don’t know as many people in attendance, a group activity or game will be a great way to introduce new friends to one another.

Have a wine connoisseur or trained sommelier walk guests through a wine tasting, or set up a mini casino with poker, blackjack and dice games. Host a film screening or throw a massive picnic with yard games such as corn hole, yard darts or badminton. Choose activities that fit the guest of honor’s interests and passions.

Favors

Similar to party themes, party favors are optional. They are simply a way to express gratitude to guests for taking the time to celebrate.

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If you choose to give favors to guests before they leave, consider those that will make an impact. Baked goods, potted plants or gourmet chocolate are all examples of favors that will leave an impression. Consider items that guests can keep in their home as a reminder of the fun they had at the birthday party, like a personalized glass, Polaroid snap from the party (have props to make the photos even more fun!), or a custom koozie. Even better, aim to shop locally for these favors for an even more personal touch.

and decorate a theme cake or simply one that’s iced in the guest of honor’s favorite colors. Or, branch outside of cake and opt for cupcakes (no cake cutting necessary!), pies or pastries.

Choose desserts that you know the birthday guest will love. Are they a big fan of citrus flavors? Key lime pie or lemon custard-filled donuts will be such a delightful surprise. Do they prefer more savory desserts? A table full of cinnamon twists, toffees and cookies will be such a gift.

Gifts

Food

Consider doing a buffet or a food bar of some kind, enabling you to offer a more diverse menu than if you were to opt for a more traditional meal. A taco bar, donut bar, or grazing table with beautiful fruits and cheeses will keep guests full and happy. This type of menu will allow you to be more flexible for your guests with dietary restrictions or food allergies as well.

And you don’t have to do all of the work yourself! Enlist your guests in a potluck of their favorite dishes, or hire a caterer to take care of the menu or even supplement the menu alongside food you make yourself.

Of course, no birthday is complete without dessert! Hire your favorite local bakery to bake

If you are a guest at a birthday party, it’s best to bring a gift unless instructed otherwise. Even something as simple as a bottle of wine or the person’s favorite spirit, a box of chocolates, or a bouquet of flowers will let them know they are loved and thought of. If the honored guest doesn’t want gifts, include “please, no gifts” on the invitation. Or, in lieu of gifts, consider requesting donations to the honoree’s favorite charity.

Birthday parties should be fun for everyone, no matter the age. Whether you’re hosting, throwing a party for yourself, or are a guest, the most important thing is that you celebrate a year well-lived and another on the horizon. ✦

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GARDEN build a bee house

The Buzz

on Bee Houses help bees establish a home in your garden B Y K AT H E R I N E F U LG H U M K N O P F

Bees are our friends, but sometimes they get a bad rap; it depends upon your experience with them. Observe them flying outdoors and see a fuzzy, button-shaped insect with wings flapping so rapidly it’s a blur. Look on store shelves and see delightful cartoon bee images on honey jars and cereal boxes. Swat at them and see a mean black bomber that lands and instantly gives a sharp sting that burns for hours.

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Bees are actually gentle creatures that befriend flora and fauna and make gardens great. By attracting them into gardens and supporting their habits, we can “bee-friend” these vital insects. Bees are an essential part of our complex ecosystem because they are the only pollinators that fertilize certain plants.

Bees work constantly during daylight hours, pollinating so flowers flourish and multiply.

Moving pollen is a process some plants require to grow and prosper. One third of all vegetables and fruits humans eat need bees to pollinate them. Yet, bees need our help. Of the 4,000 bee species in our nation, over half are in decline and one fourth are at risk of extinction.

Attract bees to your space

First, attract bees with plants, then provide a house so they build nests and stay. When choosing plants, aim for diversity in color, texture and shape.

Use local plants and seek out heirloom varieties of herbs and perennials which provide bees good foraging. Heirloom plants have not been genetically altered so they provide quality pollen. Plant several of one variety in clumps so bees see them as they whizz through the garden. Bees are fond of color; their vision favors flowers in bright hues, particularly blue, purple, violet, white and yellow.

Choose flowers with different shapes. Each species of bees has different tongue lengths, so plant variety invites more types of bees to a garden.

Offer a water source. A decorative saucer of water or a birdbath provide pretty accent pieces. Ponds and small water features attract bees and other beneficial wildlife. Consider using several water sources placed throughout the garden. Check out PlantVirginiaNatives.org for a list of suggested plants in our area.

Build bees a house

Bees reproduce well when they find a safe place for females to lay their eggs. Bees need small, hollow spots to place their eggs before they seal the nest with mud. Every egg is deposited with some pollen left beside it so the “grub” can feed when it first hatches inside the nest. For best results, now is the time to build your bee house; late winter or early spring gives bees plenty of time to notice it and build these tiny nests before they start the hard work of pollinating the garden’s flowers. There will be lots of activity around the bee house as bees lay their eggs then seal the tubes with mud. The young bees will emerge the following year.

Bee houses offer an attractive garden feature.

They are easy to build and they provide a real nature hub in the yard. A bee house is great for a family project or a garden enthusiast, and can be made with materials you have on hand. Gather supplies to build a simple frame; untreated lumber works well. Cut four squares of untreated wood r vhomemagazine.com

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12 by 12 inches and screw them together with L-brackets at each corner to shape a box that is open on the front and the back.

Find a few logs 2 to 4 inches thick from firewood kindling or discarded tree limbs that can be cut about 12 inches long. Stack the logs in the frame with ends facing out, making sure there are enough to fit tightly, then remove and lay them out for drilling.

The box should be tightly filled with logs from top to bottom and side to side so there is little space between logs. Bees come in different sizes so use two different drill-bit sizes—1/4 inch and 1/2 inch. Drill into the log a few inches but leave the back onethird of each log untouched. You want to create a cavity that does not go all the way through the log, so the nest is protected when the bees go inside and lay their eggs.

Restack the logs into the frame and set it on an old stump, bench or small table. A less formal bee house can be made by drilling these holes in the logs and stacking them in pile in a corner of your yard. Tie the stack tightly with several pieces of thick twine so the pile won’t shift or collapse.

Watch your bee house and look for activity. Once the bee house sits for a few days, bees will discover it and start investigating.

When the holes become packed with mud, the bees have laid their nests and provided offspring for next year’s garden. Now the bees start their important work pollinating vegetables and flowers. By providing a bee house, gardeners encourage bees to come into a yard where the plants benefit from having them close by in a healthy, undisturbed spot. ✦

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O

pen seven days a week, The Little Gallery is a fine art gallery and consultancy that provides art sourcing, art installation and art advisory services for residential, hospitality and corporate spaces.

Come in and let’s discuss how The Little Gallery can help on your next project and experience our beautiful selection of talented artists in historic Downtown Roanoke at 301 Market St SE. You can also browse all our artist collections online at TheLittleGalleryVA.com.

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Delivery and installation are also available within a 5-hour radius. The Little Gallery can perform most artwork installations on a variety of wall surfaces and locations using a variety of hanging systems and/or hardware.

DESIGN range hoods

when function meets focal point

THE LATEST IN RANGE HOOD DESIGN

BY JA N E R E N N YSO N

H

ome trends are constantly changing; from lighting and hardware to wall coverings and flooring, changes in decor allow us to keep our homes looking fresh. One trend gaining traction is the use of the range hood as a design focal point in the kitchen. A unique and eye-catching hood can dictate the direction of a new kitchen remodel. Whether you want to go big and bold or small and understated, there are no shortage of ideas to match any kitchen personality

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Decide on design

An easy way to dive into the design of a range hood is to start with the style of hood, then choose how to incorporate and customize it.

There are four basic styles of range hoods: undercabinet, wall mount with exposed chimney, ceiling mount, and vent insert. All of these range hoods serve the same purpose: to hide the venting needed to remove smoke, moisture, grease and smells from your kitchen while cooking.

An undercabinet range hood is exactly as it sounds. It sits under your cabinetry with the ductwork hidden in an upper cabinet. It can be installed flush against the cabinets, or have an exposed hood over the cooktop. There is limited ability to alter this hood as many styles are offered in stainless steel. However, with the ever-changing look of appliances in the kitchen, the availability of different colors is on the rise.

A wall-mount hood is a large vent with a long decorative flue that is attached to the wall and travels up to the ceiling, hiding the ductwork.

Very similar to this is a ceiling mount, which has a long flue with a vent that hangs down over a kitchen island cooktop. Both styles feature a modern look, with clean lines and stainless-steel finishes. However, similar to the undercabinet hoods, more colors, styles and finishes are emerging as kitchen design evolves. The most versatile style of range hood is the vent insert. An insert is basically the mechanics of the range vent hidden behind any type of hood. Here is where homeowners can really make an impact with materials, color, size and style.

Wonders of woodwork

The use of woodwork and cabinetry to hide a vent insert is not new in kitchen design.

However, what is new is varying the type of wood, the color or finish of the wood, and the style to make it more distinctive. Shiplap has become synonymous with the modern farmhouse aesthetic, however there are many other ways to achieve this look. Consider using reclaimed wooden beams for the entire hood or around the edges for a touch of rustic charm. Herringbone and chevron patterns are popular in flooring, but both will make a dramatic impact on a range hood. If your kitchen is more traditional, you can’t go wrong with custom millwork. Adding moldings, columns, corbels, paneling, arches or a mantel will elevate any wooden range hood. If left raw or unfinished, the wood detail will be a nice contrast to your painted cabinetry. Painting or staining the hood to match your cabinets provides a seamless and uniform look, while choosing something different can add a pop of color or sharp contrast (think white cabinets with a black hood) in an otherwise traditional space. r vhomemagazine.com

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Mix and match metals

While stainless steel range hoods are extremely common, you don’t need to limit yourself to that if you’re looking to accent your hood with metal. Copper, galvanized steel, zinc and bronze have all gained popularity in kitchen design.

Metal trim and other details can be added to any hood, and metals can be mixed and matched. Even the metal’s patina can be altered for a truly one-of-a-kind result.

Often the curve of a metal hood is used in the design process to offset the straight lines of the existing cabinetry, resulting in an eye-catching focal point.

Splendid style with tile and stone

Think tile is just for the backsplash? Not anymore. Install your backsplash tile to the ceiling and incorporate the face of the range hood as well. You can either match it for a consistent, cohesive look, or use a different color tile or mosaic to make it stand out against a simple backsplash.

Either way, the result will be impressive.

Another way to disguise your vent insert is with a cast-stone hood. These large, heavy works of art are a beautiful way to

add a bit of Old World-style to your home.

Stone hoods can even run the length of the countertop, and instantly become the main feature of the kitchen.

Updated functionality

As with any trend, extra features have been added to range hood vents that may make you want to replace your old one, even if it’s still in working order. If you are going to replace your vent with a similar unit, you may only need to do basic electrical work. However, if you are looking at a different style, it may require cutting holes in the walls or ceiling and adding additional ductwork. In this case, you should consult a professional. New models now have varying fan speeds, heat sensors that automatically turn the fan on, timers that turn the fan off, and even remote-control options.

Whether you want to plan your entire kitchen design around a new range hood or just make some simple changes, there are numerous ways to update and freshen up one of the most important places in your home. ✦

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House Dedication Fall 2021

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sleep hygiene According to a 2020 poll by the National Sleep Foundation, about half of Americans feel sleep deprived at least several days per week.

Meanwhile, the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) sleep statistics indicate that approximately 35 percent of Americans sleep fewer than seven hours per night. Getting a good night’s rest is vital for health and well-being; those polled reported that lack of sleep increased irritability and decreased productivity and focus, affecting both professional and personal life.

So what can you do to improve your odds of sleeping well? To begin, review your “sleep r vhomemagazine.com

hygiene”—your lifestyle and environmental habits that encourage good sleep. “Habits” is the key word: Certain things need to happen every day to ensure that nights are more restful. That’s because sleep, along with other essential functions like digestion and metabolism, is controlled by the body’s 24-hour circadian rhythm. The sleep-wake cycle is probably what most of us think of when we hear about circadian rhythm, and its primary influence is light. This means that your quest for a better night’s sleep actually starts as soon as you wake up.

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Experts note that sensitivity to light is most acute beginning a couple of hours before your normal bedtime and lasting until about an hour after your usual wake-up time. It’s important to get bright light fairly early in the morning, so go outside or sit by a sunny window as soon as possible after waking, which will help reset your body clock to an earlier bedtime.

Exercise

The sleep-wake cycle is also affected by exercise. Physical activity increases the amount of slow-wave sleep (deep, restorative rest) your body gets, so aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise daily. Exercise should be done earlier in the day—or at least a couple of hours before bedtime— because it releases endorphins, which increase brain activity and raise core body temperature, signaling the body to wake up. Notably, an hour or so after exercise, core body temperature decreases, which can actually help make you sleepy.

Naps

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The Pew Research Center says that on any given day, approximately one third of adults in the U.S. take a nap. While naps can help improve mood, alertness and performance, they can also negatively impact nighttime sleep. The Mayo Clinic advises keeping naps short—10 to 20 minutes—and taking them in the early afternoon, before 3 p.m.

Diet

We all know that drinking caffeine in the evening or late afternoon isn’t good for sleeping, but experts say there can be other dietary culprits. The Cleveland Clinic suggests avoiding foods high in sugar because it raises body temperature, which in turn affects the sleep-wake cycle. Spicy foods can have a similar affect, in addition to potentially causing heartburn. According to John Hopkins Medicine, digestion slows up to 50 percent while sleeping. High-protein and high-fat foods take longer to digest and can interfere with sound sleep, so avoid eating anything too heavy too late. Finally, while alcohol is a sedative and can make you sleepy, it also interferes with REM sleep and can cause sleep disruption once it wears off. Avoiding alcohol or reducing consumption is recommended to improve sleep quality.

Accoutrements

In addition to lifestyle factors, environment plays an important role in good sleep. Part of that means having comfortable furnishings and surroundings, so take a look at your sleeping quarters.

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If your mattress is uncomfortable, good sleep will be impossible. A mattress should be replaced about every 10 years, but don’t wait that long if it’s not doing the job. Memory foam mattresses have become popular for good reason; they conform well to bodies to mitigate pressure points, and have low motion transfer (meaning your bed won’t jiggle when somebody moves). Hybrid mattresses, which have memory foam atop a coiled spring base, are also popular, offering the support of an innerspring with the comfort of memory foam. Innerspring mattresses can be an affordable and comfortable option, but be sure to understand the different types of coils and how they affect price, comfort and quality. Pillow-top mattresses are pricier options which add a layer of padding for additional comfort. This padding can break down before the mattress though, so it might make more sense to buy a separate memory foam mattress topper instead, which can be replaced as needed.

Did you know that experts recommend replacing pillows every couple of years to avoid allergen buildup as well stiff necks as materials break down? Pillows are available in varying lofts and materials for back, side and stomach sleepers. Down pillows are luxuriously soft, but may not offer enough support for some sleepers.

Chambered down pillows can help prevent the fill from shifting. Latex, memory foam and shredded foam (the latter frequently combined or wrapped with other materials for increased smoothness and shape retention) usually offer more support, though memory foam pillows tend to trap heat and might feel too warm.

Amid all the options, finding the right fit is often just a matter of trial and error.

According to a 2012 poll by the National Sleep Foundation, most Americans reported that fresh-smelling sheets made them more eager to go to bed. If you’re in the market for new ones, know that the weave of cotton percale sheets has a crisp finish, whereas cotton sateen is silkier and usually a bit thicker. Longstaple cotton fibers like Egyptian and Pima produce the most luxurious cotton sheets, whereas short-staple are more affordable.

Cotton is breathable and best for warm sleepers, with the exception of flannel and jersey (which is stretchy and tends to wear out quickly).

Bamboo sheets are also breathable, as well as soft, wrinkle resistant, and environmentally friendly. Linen sheets are cooling and hypoallergenic, but stiffer than cotton.

Blankets and comforters come in array of options, from lightweight cotton, to warm but breathable wool, to cozy fleece and lofty, fluffy

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down. Layer a couple of different bed coverings to give you the optimal warmth and weight you prefer. Weighted blankets, which weigh anywhere from seven to 25 pounds, improve sleep quality for some people using “deep pressure touch” which induces a sense of calm, much like swaddling a baby. Weighted eye masks (generally 10 to 16 ounces) do the same, and are reputed to help headaches and sinus pain as well.

Drapes and window shades help block light and noise, as well as regulate room temperature, so if neighborhood lights or the sounds of traffic are invading your sleeping quarters, try floor-to-ceiling blackout curtains or lined fabric shades.

Sound machines and white noise apps help with noises, as do earplugs. Even little things like electronic lights can make your bedroom too bright; if they can’t be turned off or hidden behind something, try electrical tape or buy some LED-dimming stickers.

Finally, don’t overlook an inviting extra or two. A new pair of cozy pajamas, a diffuser with relaxing essential oils, linen spray, or a lavender-scented microwavable neck pillow can make sleep more inviting.

Routine

In addition to lifestyle and environmental factors, sleep hygiene is enhanced by a bedtime routine. Consistency is important—go to bed and wake up close to the same time every day, including weekends. A 2020 review published in the National Institute of Health’s National Library of Medicine states that having a regular sleep pattern is associated with good health.

Establish some evening behaviors to help you unwind. The sleep-wake cycle is adversely affected by evening light, so dim the lights a couple of hours before bedtime. Blue wavelengths, which improve attention and mood during the day, are disruptive at night. TVs, computers, tablets and phones all emit blue light, so try to avoid them for at least an hour, preferably two to three hours, before bed. If you must look at screens, wearing blue-blocking glasses and using blue-filtering settings or apps where possible might help (iPhones have a warm-tinted Night Shift display setting which can be scheduled for sunset to sunrise).

As with exercise and diet, the sleepwake cycle is also affected by body 42

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temperature. Exposure to daylight increases body temperature and suppresses production of melatonin. When night falls, melatonin increases and body temperature lowers. Sleepiness has been shown to be associated with a drop in body temperature, so make sure your home isn’t too warm at bedtime. The Cleveland Clinic says that 60 to 67 degrees is the preferred temperature range for a bedroom, and many other sources land on 64 to 65 degrees as optimal for good sleep.

Taking a hot bath is a relaxing evening ritual, but doing so directly before sleep will elevate your body temperature and thereby increase alertness, which takes some time to lower again once you’re in bed. Instead, having a hot bath an hour or two before going to sleep can actually be helpful, as the rise and subsequent fall in body temperature promotes sleepiness.

Magnesium soaks are reputed to impart a variety of health benefits, including relieving muscle soreness and inflammation (Epsom salt is composed of magnesium and sulfate.)

It’s also thought to help relieve insomnia, possibly because of its reputed effects on muscle relaxation. While the jury is still out in terms of official studies, at the very least, magnesium bath salts are often infused with soothing essential oils and make for a relaxing evening bath.

It’s Time to Start Planning Your Next Project!

Have you decided you need a home office, maybe a comfortable outdoor living space or is it time to get your main suite on the main floor? Now is the time to start planning your next big home project. Residential construction has been extremely busy and getting started now is the perfect way to get your project on schedule for Spring.

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Other relaxing habits to incorporate might include a mug of herbal tea, or journaling.

Spending a few minutes writing down thoughts, stressors, or making and prioritizing a to-do list, might preempt intrusive thinking once you close your eyes. Another option is performing easy stretches. Look into “static stretching,” which involves gentle movements that are held for a short period of time and accompanied by slow, rhythmic breathing.

Measured breathing and focusing only on the immediate activity are helpful for separating yourself from the day’s tension.

Pre-sleep meditations work in a similar way.

Mindfulness meditation focuses on being aware of your body and breathing, and focusing on the present. Thoughts are acknowledged and allowed to pass without judgment. In guided meditation, you are led through a series of steps by another person. YouTube, podcasts, and apps such as Headspace, Calm and Spotify have guided sessions available. Body scan meditation focuses on each part of the body and releasing tension. Any of these meditations can also be performed once you’re in bed to help wind down and leave the day behind. Envisioning a restful scene, repeating a mantra or counting breaths, and listening to soft music or a sleep story are all helpful for drifting off into slumber.

On the flip side, watching TV, working, paying bills, and eating in bed have all been shown to be detrimental to falling asleep, so try to keep your bedroom as a sleep sanctuary.

If you can’t fall asleep after about 20 minutes, rather than toss and turn, leave the room. Sit in a chair in the dark and just let your mind wander, or read something dull (keeping the lighting dim and avoiding blue light) for a while until you feel sleepy. Avoid looking at the time, which will just increase anxiety over the sleep you’re not getting.

Developing healthy sleep habits can take time, so don’t expect to see big results after one day.

You might have to make adjustments gradually, and wind your clock back an hour at a time.

Tune into your body; don’t ignore it when you’re tired, and don’t try to force yourself to bed when you’re wide awake. Know also that sleep hygiene is recommended as general maintenance rather than to cure chronic insomnia, which may require the help of a professional. But establishing a set of practices and techniques for good sleep will have ripple effects for your overall health, and help you look forward to bedtime as a well-deserved retreat from the activities and stressors of the day. ✦

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IMPROVE knife knowledge

BUYING AND CARING FOR ESSENTIAL KITCHEN KNIVES

F

BY S LOA N E LU C A S

rom casual cooks to top chefs, they all know that knives are critical tools that make a kitchen.

Trained chefs will even argue that you only need one excellent knife for all your culinary tasks. But which one? And once you have invested, how can you best take care of your knives to last for decades?

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Experts agree that you need to start your knife collection with a top-quality chef’s knife, considered a hardy kitchen workhorse that can be enlisted for almost every task. Shop for a knife that works best for you, with some heft and a comfortable handle, but push out of your comfort zone when it comes to blade length.

Chef’s knives are available in a range of sizes, from 6- to 8- to 10-inch lengths. Most people will be more comfortable with a shorter blade, but a larger blade offers more versatility.

Also called a “cook’s knife,” a chef’s knife can slice, dice, chop, julienne, and so much more. A classic French-style knife curves upward at the end, while the Japanese-style Santoku knife—which has gained in popularity over the years—has a tip that curves downward. Many manufactures of Santoku knives also add a “hollow edge”—shallow pockets that help food release from the blade. As for cost, be prepared to pay upwards of $100 or more for an heirloom-quality knife.

Next up after the chef’s knife is an excellent quality paring knife, a smaller version of the cook’s knife for smaller jobs like peeling fruits and vegetables, deveining shrimp, and hulling strawberries—among other tasks. Your price range for that should be a minimum of $20.

If you want to add a third knife to your collection, choose a top-brand serrated knife for slicing foods where you have a tougher outside but a delicate inside, such as bread, tomatoes and watermelon. They are also great for cake layers. Choose teeth that are not too large, which can damage food, but not too small, or they will not be efficient. Expect to spend $30-$60 for one.

To further expand your knife collection, or for kitchens with multiple cooks, add a cleaver for heavy-duty chopping jobs and for breaking down chicken or meat ($30-50), a boning knife to separate beef, pork, fish and poultry meat from the bone (around $30), and a slicing knife for carving roasts ($30-45).

Essential tips

When shopping for knives, choose ones with full-tang blades, where the blade is one solid piece of metal with the handles attached to either side. These are sturdier, heftier, and longer lasting than other blades. Forged knives are considered superior, constructed from a single piece of forged steel which has been heated and pounded into shape. Some of the world’s leading R o a n o ke Va l l e y H O M E E a r l y S p r i n g 2 0 2 2

brands readily available at specialty and department stores include Wüsthof (a favorite of celebrity chef Ina Garten), J.A. Henckels (used by Gordon Ramsay), and Shun (preferred by Bobby Flay).

Regarding knife blocks with complete sets of kitchen knives, experts say resist. They look impressive, but you are usually getting more knives than you need, and the blocks take up a lot of counter space.

As for cutting surfaces, never cut on hard surfaces like a plate or your kitchen counter. Avoid glass, granite, marble and ceramic.

Instead, use only cutting boards that are wood or plastic.

Sharpen your focus

Dull knives do not do anyone any favors. They make for more work, and often cause injury, because the more pressure you need to exert to make the cut, the more potential you might slip.

The best way to maintain the sharpness of your knives is to care for them. Knives should be washed by hand—never in the dishwasher. Wash them with a basic sponge or cloth, warm water, and dish soap—never with scrubbing sponges or harsh abrasives.

The best way to store them is with a magnetic strip, which provides the added benefit of easy access. If you must store them in a drawer, purchase silicone covers to protect the blades.

If, over time, your knife is less effective, you can take your knives to be refreshed professionally, or you can do them at home with honing steels, sharpeners and sharpening rods.

Steel honing rods are not for sharpening, but for re-aligning straight-edge knives. Home chefs should hold the rod vertically with the tip stabilized by planting on a countertop. Place the back of the blade against the top of the rod, with the knife

pointed slightly upward. The blade should be held at a 15‑degree angle while sliding it down the length of the rod. Do each side of the knife four or five times to straighten the edge, then wipe down the blade and rod after. (Check out YouTube for tutorials.)

This can be done as frequently as needed, as it does not remove a significant amount of metal from the blade.

To sharpen dull blades does involve the removal of some of the blade but might be necessary if the honing steel fails to make the knife perform any better. You can purchase an electric or manual sharpener, following the manufacturer’s directions for use. Serrated knives can be painstakingly sharpened, one notch at a time, with a sharpening rod. Or you can take them to be professionally sharpened. Thankfully, these knives rely on the teeth to cut, so they do not need to be sharpened that often.

With proper care, the knives you have carefully chosen and invested in will last for decades and become culinary heirlooms to pass to the next generation of chefs. ✦

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LIVE digital organization

DIGITAL DECLUTTER

USE TECHNOLOGY TO HELP ORGANIZE YOUR ONLINE LIFE

BY J E S S I E T H O M P SO N

Looking around your house, you might spot dust bunnies in a corner or smudges on a bathroom mirror, and your brain registers: “Yuck, I’ve got to clean that up!”

The same telltale signs are not so evident in our digital lives, but, if information from a recent survey is any indication, our computers and phones—and consequently our minds—are also in need of a clean up.

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Doors, Windows, Mirrors, Shower Enclosures

Clearly the Best Choice for Glass Software company Summit Hosting reported that the average American has more than 80 bookmarked websites, 7 tabs or browsers open at any given time, 582 saved cell phone photos, and 13 unused apps. That’s enough to send tidying expert Marie Kondo in search of the trashcan icon.

Interestingly, the same techniques she describes for physical clutter can be used in the technological realm as well.

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First, get organized

For computers, Kondo suggests creating two folders: “Important Documents” and “Spark Joy,” then committing to go through all your files (looking at files as a list in date order can be helpful) on your computer one by one, and if they don’t fit in either category, send them to the trash. That two-folder system lends itself to creating subfolders: Important Documents might include work in progress and bills to pay; while Spark Joy might include subfolders like personal, vacation and photos. It’s not a one-size-fits-all recommendation. Your folders might be labeled differently; the labels are simply an effort to keep similar items together.

Email accounts can be trickier. To start, be ruthless: Unsubscribe from all automatic email lists. If you need to buy something, chances are you’ll just head to a familiar site to make a purchase. If you buy something online, put email receipts and shipping information into a “pending orders” folder, and delete these emails once items arrive and are kept and/or returned.

Create subfolders in your email account too; maybe it’s messages from the same one or two people, or by subject matter or project type/deadline. Use labels that make sense to you. Delete emails you won’t respond to. Create systems; many email programs allow you to automatically have certain key-worded emails moved to a folder without even having to see them. Adopt routines; every morning check email and delete all those that need no response so that your inbox isn’t always crowded.

If you’re often working from/responding from a phone, check how many of the apps you’ve downloaded you’re actually using. If you haven’t used an app in two months, delete it.

Then, organize the apps much in the way you’d organize your

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Computers, tablets and phones are supposed to help us spend our time doing things we want to be doing. But if you have to spend 45 minutes looking for, giving up on finding, and resetting your password, there are several possible solutions. While everyone’s setups are unique (phone manufacturer, computer preference and preferred browser), most browsers have an option to save your passwords, and sync them across devices.

A con to this system: You can’t easily access passwords and login info outside of the browser, or easily share it with others you trust.

Another, more secure option is to use a password manager. These websites and/or apps create, store and fill in complex passwords without forcing you to remember them or have to retype them every time you access your various accounts. A few popular options to investigate include Keeper Password Manager, Myki, LogMeOnce Password Management Suite, Dashlane and LastPass. Some charge a fee; others are free. Features vary; some you can use across platforms, and some can keep credit card information and shipping addresses on file, so those fields can be filled in automatically. One appealing feature of many password managers is a password-sharing feature. You specify the contacts you want to share a password with, and as long as they have the same password manager installed, the software does all the necessary logging in without displaying the actual password itself.

As sophisticated attacks and data breaches become more and more common, you can boost security by enabling two-factor authentication (in computer lingo, “2FA”). In essence, 2FA has users input something they know, like a password, with something they physically have, for example, a one-time code texted to a cell phone. The most secure form of 2FA is to use a separate, physical device, called a security key or security token. These gadgets get connected to a phone or computer to verify the identity of the user; some R o a n o ke Va l l e y H O M E E a r l y S p r i n g 2 0 2 2

use biometric scans (such as a fingerprint), which can circumvent the need for a password altogether.

Finally, if security remains a concern, you can purchase a protection plan. These too vary in features and costs, but generally, they monitor for identity theft, the use of personal information, and credit score changes.

In today’s world, you can’t really opt out of using a computer or a cell phone. The good news is that there are, and will likely always be, ways to improve both efficiencies and security. Unfortunately, there is not a one-size-fits-all option, and most will take a bit of front-end time to organize. But once you find a system that works for you and your family, you will save time, and perhaps more importantly, aggravation. ✦

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the pursuit of tranquility

COMBINING TR ADITIONAL AND MODERN AESTHETICS IN A SOUTH ROANOKE HOME 52

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BY NOELLE MIL AM Photography by Kathryn Feldmann

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hen they arrived in 2019, Amanda Marko and her family scouted out a large brick Colonial in a prime neighborhood in Roanoke. The Markos loved the proximity to downtown Roanoke’s amenities, as well as how the lots overlook the mountains surrounding the Blue Ridge Parkway. Amanda, an artist, and former executive communicator with ties to Capitol Hill, was looking for the challenge of a new creative project. r vhomemagazine.com

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he house, with its traditional façade, winding gated drive, and large yard was exactly what the family was looking for. They have a history of selecting homes with very traditional exteriors; however, their taste in interior design, honed over the years and lovingly curated, is anything but conventional. “I saw this house and felt immediately that it was a house I could make into a space we would love,” recalls Amanda. “Our previous houses were very similar and so I sort of had a template of how to take a traditional-looking house and make the interior something very different.”

Amanda’s design goal was to make the interior as modern and minimalist as possible. “We have always been particular about the space we live in,” says Amanda. “At home we gravitate towards interiors that are very uncluttered and orderly that convey a sense of serenity.”

The home has a transitional floorplan, with each room open and flowing into the next on the ground floor. Large walls of oversized windows across the front and the back of the home produce an interior that is flooded with light. Amanda had intentionally refrained from any window treatments. The walls are painted a uniform crisp white (“Chantilly Lace” by Benjamin Moore). The modern aesthetic, according to Amanda, has its foundations in clean white walls and contemporary light fixtures.

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Changing the colors in a home can sometimes be a challenging undertaking. It’s so much more than just painting the walls: Homeowners must consider trim, cabinetry, tile, countertops, and fireplace surrounds in order to create a cohesive design. This is a special challenge in transitional homes because rooms open into each other, and the space can easily become disjointed. For example, when they purchased the home, the kitchen featured a warmer palette of honey-colored cabinets, backsplash and granite that wasn’t cohesive with the rest of the downstairs. Amanda found that once she painted the extensive wall-to-ceiling cabinets and trim, the granite countertops with swirls of tan and grey looked great with the color she’d selected (Benjamin Moore’s “Shoreline”) and really the only piece that needed to be changed was the backsplash. Fortuitously, she’d saved some of the tiles from her previous home where she had used the same palette, so she was able to use materials she already had on hand. The resulting space blends seamlessly with the living room, family room and dining areas.

The living room features white leather seating with navy blue accents. The large abstract painting and narrow custom console table were specifically designed and placed to cover an unsightly HVAC return. Amanda has softened the stark white of the leather sofas with soft faux animal throws which are the landing place of choice for the family’s three Italian Greyhounds, Ava, Ivey and Olive.

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The family room, with its panoramic views of the mountains, is a beautiful, light-filled space. The built-in shelves flanking the fireplace provide display space for sculptures and books, and the furnishings are also white leather. An extra-long couch and large ottoman, and two small side chairs, provide the perfect spots for watching a movie, relaxing by the fire, or simply enjoying the views.

“When we lived abroad several years ago, I took some design courses at the university. I knew I had an eye, but wanted to learn more theory, to have a foundation on which to build,” Amanda says. “I learned to choose furniture that was structural, almost like pieces of art in their own right, but also that would give us flexibility so that we could use them in different ways in different houses.” The dining room buffet, purchased several years ago from RocheBobois, a French company specializing in fine contemporary furniture, is a perfect example of this. It is beautiful structurally, with its sculpted doors and ice-white surface. In this house, it functions as a buffet; its sliding doors hide Amanda’s grandmother’s heirloom r vhomemagazine.com

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china, but, as she points out, it could also be a focal point under artwork, or a table behind a couch. “Versatility is key,” says Amanda, because the family has moved six times in the past 10 years. The Italian dining room table and white leather chairs were selected for their beauty, but also for their comfort and function, enabling the Markos to seat 12 diners as easily as four.

Complementing the “icy” feel in the dining room is an original C. Jeré wall sculpture. (C. Jeré is a metalwork company of wall art and accessories named after artist Curtis Jeré.) The metallic and mirrored surfaces reflect the prismatic light from the chandelier overhead. After painting, one of the first things Amanda changed was the home’s light fixtures. “Really think about light fixtures if you are trying to embrace a more modern aesthetic,” she says. “They’re easier to change out than you’d think, and it should be the top priority to change the look of your space.”

Art in the Marko home is also a careful and deliberate business. The family travels extensively and art is their favorite souvenir, so hanging around the home is a veritable travelogue. “We like having a connection to the artists,” Amanda says.

“I’ve gotten to know them either in person or online. That way the art in our home feels more personal.” Art inspired the powder room for example, where Amanda has complemented the Asian-themed wall art with bold black and white wallpaper that resembles origami, and a mirror and vessel sink with strong geometric lines also suggestive of that art form.

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Amanda is also an artist in her own right. She has converted a sun-filled room on the home’s lower level to a full-fledged gallery. The long walls and natural light make this space the perfect place to display the colorful abstract oils that she creates. Amanda paints in her in-home studio and exhibits her work in her home gallery, locally at Magnolia and WyndRose Eco Boutique, and online at Saatchi Art. 58

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The home’s lower level holds a treasure trove of spaces: a gaming room, the art studio, and a luxurious bar and “media lounge.” When they purchased the home, the Markos saw opportunity in the large empty room with attached bar and wine storage. It was perfect for a space they’d always wanted and envisioned: a combination of entertaining space, a full bar that could make most restaurateurs drool, and a state-of-the-art entertainment/ sound system ... hence, the media lounge. At first Amanda thought that they would need professional design assistance, but as they talked about it, they realized that they could design the space together, dividing up the technical and creative aspects. Once careful diagrams were drawn and the installation of everything from the projection TV entertainment system to the surround sound, to the dropped ceiling lit by hundreds of tiny twinkling fiberoptic lights was complete, Amanda designed the furnishings. She commissioned local artist Maggie PerrinKey to paint the mural whose colors match the drop ceiling and the warm gold of the speakers. Amanda also ordered a series of 13 individual pieces of upholstered furniture that can be configured an infinite number of ways. “This is actually the only room we had to buy furniture for,” Amanda says, gesturing to the cozy U-shaped arrangement facing the projection wall. “We wanted a place where we could entertain a number of people, but we could also make it feel comfortable for just our family … For instance, this current arrangement is ideal for family movie nights.

I call it the ‘Human Dog Bed.’”

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The Markos also spend a lot of their time in the home’s outdoor spaces. When they moved in, the back yard was taken up by a large, paved basketball court, complete with outdoor lighting.

Since they are not avid players, they immediately began an overhaul that kept the existing large slate patio with several seating areas, an outdoor kitchen, an al fresco dining area overlooking the terraced back yard, and a stone fireplace. Over the past two years the outdoor areas have been enhanced by ornamental grasses, lots of native plants and pollinator-friendly perennials and shrubs. The Markos also installed a zen garden and meditation space, all of which were featured in the Garden Club of Virginia’s Historic Garden Tour in 2021.

Looking back over the past two years, from the whirlwind of relocating to Southwestern Virginia in 2019, the family has much to be proud of. They have taken a traditional house and made it their own, creating interior and exterior spaces that bring them a sense of tranquility and joy. “It took a lot of work,” Amanda says. “But we use every bit of this home and we are proud of the teamwork that went into transforming it into a space that is both beautiful and functional for the way we live.” ✦

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IMPROVE basic repairs

BEFORE YOU CALL FOR REPAIRS…

5 COMMON DIY HOUSEHOLD FIXES B Y PAU L A P E T E R S C H A M B E R S

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s the pandemic continued, social media feeds filled with images of home improvement: additions for at-home work (and escaping others); lavish decks and outdoor living areas; refreshed kitchens to accommodate meal prep and consumption. In some cases, the improvements were undertaken by homeowners themselves, eager to demonstrate newfound and, in many cases, self-taught skills.

But what of the mundane? The unexpected repair or simple update that doesn’t warrant a Facebook or Instagram post? These small fixes, while not as glamorous as a freshly tiled backsplash or newly laid flooring, are essential elements in our lives at home. No matter your skill set and capabilities, it’s good to feel comfortable undertaking a simple repair. Here are five you can likely manage—or learn to do so. r vhomemagazine.com

Repair a hole in drywall

As solid as our homes might be, drywall isn’t impervious to damage. A thrown toy, a door that bangs into a wall, or even a dropped picture that bounces off the floor can make a hole. The good news: Holes up to 6 inches square can be filled using paper tape (for the smallest jobs) or wire mesh (for larger repairs). You’ll also need spackle, a flat putty knife, fine-grain sandpaper and, of course, paint in the color of the wall being fixed. The biggest challenge, honestly, is letting the spackle dry completely before sanding and painting over it. Don’t rush the process.

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Fix a running toilet

The irony of the running toilet—so known because we hear water flowing to refill a tank—is that it can be easy to overlook.

Once the problem reveals itself, however, this is usually an easy repair. First, diagnose the problem. Remove the tank lid and flush the toilet, noticing the various mechanisms: the fill tube, the flapper (on the floor of the tank) and the float arm or bobble, usually attached to a chain or lever. All of these parts can simply wear down over time and can be replaced without tools. Local hardware stores will have individual replacement parts or kits.

When the time comes to do the work, be sure to drain the tank first, by closing the water valve (found at the bottom rear of the toilet, close to the wall) and then flushing, which will empty the tank and keep your hand dry while you solve the problem.

Change/replace a light fixture

This one’s a little trickier than fixing a toilet, but only because it involves electricity. And once you discern which switch in the circuit box applies, you’re really home free. If you’re switching out the fixture with one that has a similar, if not identical, base, R o a n o ke Va l l e y H O M E E a r l y S p r i n g 2 0 2 2

the biggest challenge is ensuring you have enough electrical wire to connect to the new fixture. Nearly all replacement fixtures will come with wire caps, which you’ll use to connect the wires from the new light to the existing wires in the wall. Be sure to twist the wires clockwise before you put the cap on the end, since that will also turn clockwise.

Fix a leaky faucet

Nothing is more irritating—and also wasteful—than a leaky faucet. Again, the first step is to turn off the water from under the sink. (This might take a while, depending on what’s stored in that cupboard.) Once the water is off, open the tap to release any water still in the pipes. Then you can start disassembling the faucet to find the culprit. Sometimes, the leak is in the handle, which is often a sign that the O ring needs to be repaired.

If the leak is at the spout, that’s usually an indication that a washer has corroded or otherwise worn. If you don’t have the manual for your faucet, remove the part in need of replacement and make a quick trip to the hardware store for the (inexpensive) part you need.

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Repair nicked/scratched wood floors

The beauty of wood floors is that they age gracefully, absorbing the usual wear and tear of families. But a dragged piece of furniture or particularly aggressive game of indoor hockey (hey, it can happen) can easily lead to a more dramatic scratch that stands out from the rest. If you’re dealing with a smallish imperfection, and depending on the color of your floor, you may be able to conceal it naturally, by rubbing a walnut—the nut itself, not the shell—on the scratch or applying a mixture of apple cider vinegar and olive oil. You can try coloring the scratches with blending pencils or markers, or even lightly sanding the area and reapplying stain. Be careful: This is one fix where you can actually make the problem worse.

There’s no shame in calling a professional for help. But there’s a great deal of satisfaction—and reduction in cost— when you take on small repair jobs yourself. ✦

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IMPROVE porch style

seasonal styling OFFER GUESTS A YEAR-ROUND WELCOME TO YOUR FRONT PORCH B Y M A R G I E L I P PA R D

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ike bears in their winter dens, many of us feel like hibernating in our cozy homes when the holiday season ends. But our front porches tell a different story. They epitomize our connection to others all year long, and well-appointed ones are welcoming to family and friends. An extension of our homes’ interior, the front porch creates a lasting first impression and emanates warm hospitality despite the lingering cold weather. Give your front porch some extra Valentine’s Day love as winter gives way to spring through simple upgrades and stylish accents to boost your home’s charm and curb appeal.

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Make your front door the focal point

Please tread on me

Your front door is the centerpiece of your front porch, so grace it with finishing touches that draw your eye towards it. Try a fresh coat of paint on the door or trim that complements your home’s exterior or pops with bold spring color. Flank your door with eye-catching planters and attractive light fixtures, install a gleaming new brass knocker, and outfit your doorstep with a traditional monogrammed welcome mat or one with darling spring motifs (think flowers, robins, honeybees, leprechauns and cloverleafs, or even basketballs and hoops for March Madness).

Transition your winter wreath to an early-spring profusion of fresh and faux flowers, berries and greens; a sprinkling of red and pink hearts will hint of Valentine’s Day love.

A new spring doormat will spruce up your home and protect it from grub and grime. Select a doormat that extends the length of the front door and its sidelights; ensure it has a non-slip rubber backing or pad to prevent falls. The greater the foot traffic, the more durable the mat material should be. Coir mats are best for heavy outdoor use because their coarse natural fibers easily scrape away shoe dirt and can withstand the elements. Consider layering your welcome mat on a patterned outdoor rug for an infusion of texture and interest.

Light it up

A well-lit front porch is both safe and inviting. Consider upgrading your smaller light fixtures to larger, more luminous ones; for a cohesive look, match them to your trim and accents.

Scale your light fixtures to one third of your front door’s length and position them at eye level, or about 72 inches from the floor.

Adorn your porch with lanterns lit by flameless LED candles to yield an incandescent ambiance; buy ones with a timer so they light automatically in the evening. Path lights leading to your front porch not only convey your concern for others’ safety but also dial up your home’s curb appeal. r vhomemagazine.com

Thrill, fill and spill

When stylishly arranged, evergreens adorned with spring elements rejuvenate your front porch. A simple three-step design technique—“thrill, fill and spill”—creates a simple yet elegant arrangement which you can refresh throughout the year with seasonal flowers and plants. Start with a dramatic focal point (the “thrill”) like a tall boxwood topiary or spruce tree centered in an urn or large container partially filled with potting soil and outfitted with drainage holes. Plant variegated English ivy or golden creeping Jenny so they cascade (“spill”) over the side.

Festoon (“fill”) the arrangement with pansies or other hardy flowering plants and budding branches to inject fresh spring color and varied textures.

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For a sophisticated entrance, frame your front door with handsome urns that echo your porch trim and accents. For a dramatic effect, cluster brightly colored planters or place them symmetrically on the ascending porch stairs. An even number of pots is more formal than an odd number. For an infusion of early springtime color, fill your hanging baskets with fresh ferns and plant your window boxes with pansies and greens.

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Place lemon or citrus-hued pillows and beige throws on your porch chairs and lay a plushy, warm-toned outdoor rug to achieve hygge, the Danish notion of soothing comfort and minimalist simplicity. For added country chic, pair a galvanized watering can full of flowers with colorful rainboots. Or stand an antique bike next to a wooden welcome sign, a weathered fruit crate holding a bird house, and lanterns. Don’t forget to welcome your pooch on the porch: add a cozy, sturdy dog bed and a colorful, elevated water bowl to complete this comforting spring tableau. ✦

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LIVE menu delights

on the menu

flavors to bridge the Seasons

BY SAR AH NICHOL A S Winter, spring, summer and fall—they all have their own perks. With each season, the ingredients of the family table change as well. I don’t know about you, but I look forward to all seasons. Each one brings its own unique take on food and what we crave eating, but does anyone else feel as though they are stuck between their heart’s desire for a different season and what's in season at the market? I'm with you on that one! The season change that really gets me is the one between winter and spring. I yearn for the fresh flavors of warmer weather, but Mother Nature is laughing at me. Well, this year, I have a plan, and I'm here to tell you what's on my menu will give those winter blues a spring in their step!

“WINTER IS THE NEW SPRING” GRAIN SALAD POMEGRANATE MOLASSES CHICKEN THIGHS OLIVE OIL PISTACHIO CAKE WITH LEMON ROSEMARY GLAZE

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Creamy Tuscan Chicken Ingredients • ¼ cup Oliveto Tuscan Herb Olive Oil, divided • 4 cloves garlic, finely diced • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, halved lengthwise • 1 small yellow onion, diced • ½ cup white wine • 1 (8 ounce) jar sun-dried tomato strips in oil, drained • 1 pint heavy cream • Sea salt & pepper, to taste • 3 cups baby spinach leaves, washed • 1 TBSP fresh parsley, chopped Instructions Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt & pepper. Add in half of the Oliveto Tuscan Herb Olive Oil & brown chicken in two batches. Transfer to a plate & set aside. Chicken might still be raw in the middle, but will cook in the sauce later.

In the same pan, saute the garlic & onion until tender, about 4-5 minutes. Pour in the white wine, bring to a boil, reducing to half, while scraping any bits off the bottom of the pan.

Reduce heat to medium-low. Return the chicken to the pan, add sun-dried tomatoes & cream, then bring to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally. Season with salt & pepper. Cook for another 15 minutes & add in the spinach leaves & allow to wilt in the sauce. Top with parsley & serve over pasta or rice. olivetorke.com | olivetorke@gmail.com | (540) 725-1010 3565 Electric Road, Suite D | Roanoke, VA 24018

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“WINTER IS THE NEW SPRING” GRAIN SALAD

I love this recipe because it feels light like spring, but has the hearty characteristics of winter. Lemon is a universal flavor booster, and the dash of cayenne is on point. The subtle sweetness of honey and grapes and the nutty grains make it a perfect blend of the seasons. It works great with all proteins to round out a meal.

SALAD

1 cup cooked red quinoa 1 cup cooked farro 1 cup grapes, halved 1 teaspoon olive oil 1/4 cup shelled edamame 2 cups thinly sliced Brussels sprouts 1/4 cup finely chopped green onions 2 tablespoons unsalted cashews, coarsely chopped

DRESSING

1/2 inch fresh ginger, grated Juice of 2 lemons 1 tablespoon honey 1/4 teaspoon cayenne 1/4 cup olive oil Salt and pepper to taste Crumbled feta and squeeze of lemon, to serve Cook quinoa and farro per box instructions.

Combine remaining salad ingredients in a large bowl. Set aside. In a separate bowl, mix dressing ingredients. Pour dressing over salad and toss to coat evenly. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes or until ready to eat. To serve, toss again and top with feta and a squeeze of lemon to brighten flavors.

Season to taste.

POMEGRANATE MOLASSES CHICKEN THIGHS

It is always a good time to fire up the grill; it makes me feel like warmer weather is ahead. Throw that coat on, if needed, and get the spring feels with sticky chicken, intense flavors and fresh herbs.

1 teaspoon ground mustard 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon pepper 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne 8 chicken thighs, bone-in and skin on 3 tablespoons olive oil 6 cloves of garlic, grated 3 tablespoons pomegranate molasses 2 tablespoons of parsley, minced, to serve In a bowl, combine mustard, cumin, salt, pepper, allspice and cayenne. In another bowl, toss the chicken with oil and garlic.

Add the spice mixture, cover, and let rest for R o a n o ke Va l l e y H O M E E a r l y S p r i n g 2 0 2 2

15 minutes. Heat the grill to medium/ high heat and grill chicken until cooked through and slightly charred, about 10 minutes, flipping once.

Brush with molasses at 6 minutes and again at 9 minutes. Remove from the grill and plate. Top with fresh parsley to serve.

OLIVE OIL PISTACHIO CAKE WITH LEMON ROSEMARY GLAZE Cake is the universal dessert for all seasons! This one feels warm and cozy, and light and refreshing at the same time.

CAKE

3/4 cup olive oil 3 eggs, room temperature 1 1/2 cups sugar 1/2 cup pistachios, shelled and finely chopped 1/2 cup heavy cream 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Zest of 1 lemon 1 3/4 cups cake flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt

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GLAZE

1 cup sugar 1 cup water 2 tablespoons lemon juice 4 sprigs rosemary Chopped pistachios for garnish Preheat oven to 350 and liberally grease a 12-cup Bundt pan with butter and flour. In a bowl, whisk oil, eggs and sugar until fluffy, about 1 minute. Stir in pistachios, heavy cream, vanilla and lemon zest. In another bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Gently fold into wet ingredients. Pour in to Bundt pan and bake for 45 to 50 minutes. While baking, add sugar, water, lemon juice and rosemary to a small saucepan over medium heat.

Bring to a gentle boil, while stirring with wooden spoon. Once sugar is dissolved and rosemary is fragrant, remove from heat and cool. Once cake is baked and cooled, gently poke tiny holes with wooden skewer (or similar) in the top and pour over the glaze. Sprinkle with pistachios, slice and serve! ✦

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GARDEN vase know-how

BEST IN BOUQUETS

COLLECTING THE RIGHT VASE FOR THE RIGHT FLOWERS

BY ANNE ELISE HA STINGS It’s that cold and dreary time of year, and the lack of foliage can really take its toll on us.

However, spring is on the way, and with it, the return of freshly cut flowers and arrangements.

While you anxiously await brighter days, you can be stocking your cabinets with vases to fit the requirements for your choice of arrangements. When it’s time, you won’t have to put the apology bouquet from your partner in a two-liter bottle, or the flowers you picked on a hike in your only clean cup; you’ll have the exact vase you need

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One of the most versatile vases out there is the traditional bouquet vase. This type of vase has an hourglass-like shape, with a narrow lip and wide body. Due to its shape, bouquet vases are great for full arrangements and flowers with large blooms. This type of vase is perfect for flowers with medium- to long-length stems to balance out the wider body. For this vase, think of a bouquet with roses, freesia, lily of the valley, and ferns for foliage. Arrange them so the lily of the valley spills over the sides, with the ferns cradling it right behind to create a full arch shape. This will keep the heavybottomed vase from overshadowing your arrangement.

A similar vase to have in your collection is a rustic vase. It has the same hourglass shape as a bouquet vase, but with a slightly narrower neck and a rounder bottom. This is a great vase for top-heavy flowers that might otherwise be knocked over easily. When you have snapdragons, rhododendrons or Virginia bluebells, reach for the rustic vase. This is a casual vase that is great in places with higher traffic, like a coffee table or kitchen island.

Especially with daffodils and tulips popping up, a cylinder vase is good to have on hand. With its tall, narrow shape, it’s perfect for long-stemmed flowers with dramatic blooms. This vase shows small bunches of tall flowers in their best light, and also looks beautiful with just a single flower. This works wonderfully for not only daffodils and tulips, but also irises and orchids. It’s a dramatic shape that makes an excellent statement piece. A cylinder vase is best placed on a side table or fireplace mantel where it isn’t likely to fall over or obstruct vision.

Another classic vase for your collection is the trumpet or vintage vase. It is similar to the cylinder vase, but flares out at the opening. A staple for wedding flower arrangements, it can be a great formal vase option to have for more sophisticated gatherings. Stick with long-stemmed and dramatic flowers as you would for the cylinder vase, but keep in mind that the wider mouth allows for more flowers and some filler or greenery.

For truly gigantic blooms, a bowl vase, with its round bottom and a wide opening, works well. Also known as a bubble vase, this vase is great for flowers that have rigid stems and large heads, like peonies, magnolias and hydrangeas.

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Organic-looking arrangements— where you want the flowers to fall naturally—will shine in a bowl vase. With this kind of vase, cut the flower stems to the height of the vase and let the blooms fall into a round shape.

A great catch-all that doesn’t take up too much space is the bud vase. The bud vase is small, meant to hold only a single flower or miniature bouquet. It’s also great for showing off wildflowers, dogwood blooms, cherry blossoms and Lenten roses. This type of vase works well as a centerpiece at a dinner table without blocking anyone’s face during conversation.

If you prefer a more minimalist, modern look, a rectangular vase would be a great choice. This type of vase works best for tall flowers with large blooms, but gives them space to spread out. For flowers like lilac, tulips or forsythia, you can arrange them in a row and tie stems together for a contemporary look.

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There’s no reason to wait for the flowers to bloom in spring, either.

If you find yourself getting the itch for an arrangement, you can get inspiration from our winter plants. Forage outside and use sprigs of pine, birch branches and holly to create a lovely arrangement in a pinch. We’re thankful that spring is coming, but we can be content through the last cold days as well. ✦

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CREATE A STYLE STATEMENT WITH WINDOW TREATMENTS

BY CHRIST Y RIPPEL

Window treatments, such as blinds, shades and curtains, provide privacy and light control, but also add softness, texture and personality to a room. Advances in automation (push a button, your blinds go down), new fabrics, and layered window options ensure that your choices are endless, but deciding on a direction can be daunting.

Cindy Greer of Curtains, Blinds and Bath in Forest advises to think about function first.

For example, do you need a blacked-out bedroom for sleeping? Is privacy a concern during daylight hours, or just at night? Can you reach the window easily, or would automation be helpful? Are the treatments just for looks? Decide what functionality suits your needs, and you’ll have a launching point for making good choices. r vhomemagazine.com

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Layered windows

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A layered window treatment is usually a combination of two different treatments on a single window, creating multiple means of light control and/or texture. “There is often a minimalist view to our homes and windows now, and even layered treatments are generally more lightweight and airy, with the ability to let all the natural light in when it’s wanted,” says Greer.

The base layer is blinds, shades or shutters, which can be opened and closed easily. The second layer is either moveable, such as drapery panels, or a decorative accent, such as a cornice at the top of the window. A cornice is made of wood with a layer of batting, covered by a decorative fabric for an upholstered appearance. It is installed into place and is not moveable. While valances with swooping and draped fabric were once popular, those have fallen out of favor as most homeowners now prefer a more tailored look.

Layers work together to create a unique design statement while controlling light and creating privacy at any time of day. In choosing your layered treatment, start with the base layer, which, in an up-to-date home, should provide neutral texture. A woven wood shade lends an organic element, incorporating natural wood, grasses and reeds, and is a favorite of Elaine Stephenson Interiors in Roanoke. “There are many different weaves and textures, and you can get a variety of privacy and light control with these shades,” explains Seely Nicholson, a designer with Elaine Stephenson Interiors. “They add a layer of warmth to any room, can stand alone or complement other window treatments, and are a reasonable price.”

A Roman shade, which is a fabric shade that when raised stacks the fabric in horizontal folds, also works nicely as a base layer, as does a roller shade, which rolls into a cartridge at the top of the window for a more modern and minimalist look. Wood or wood-look shutters can be a good base layer for situations where privacy is often desired, such as a window facing a busy street or in a powder room. Be aware that shutters can significantly impact the amount of natural light that reaches a room, darkening it significantly. If you want to maximize your budget, a natural wood or white blind could also suffice.

Ideally, you’ll be able to execute an inside mount for the base layer. This means simply that the blind, shade or shutter can be hung within the window frame to minimize the profile, tucking it nicely within. However, some window frames don’t have enough depth to allow for this, and in this case, an outside mount is necessary, though choosing one with a slim profile is

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best for the overall finished look of your window.

The top layer is most often a cornice or curtain/drapery panels. A cornice is a good choice in a high-traffic area where curtains seem impractical or easily soiled (for example, near a breakfast nook where small children eat), providing some pattern, interest and softness at the top of the window, and hiding any hardware from a blind or shade underneath it. A cornice is also a great option for first-story windows that you can view from an open second-story loft or landing in your home, as the top is covered and upholstered, hiding any unsightly hardware of the shades or blinds. In a large bank of windows with several shades, a single cornice that runs the length of the windows at the top is unifying.

When you want the drama and depth of curtain panels as the top layer of a window treatment, nothing else will do.

Curtain panels can also be a standalone window treatment, but they can be particularly tricky for homeowners to execute on their own, so we talked to our design experts for tips on making your curtains look professionally done.

Curtains, Blinds and Bath

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Curtain panels done right

Curtains or drapes can be dramatic and bold, or sheer and subtle, and they can range in fabrics from voluptuous velvets to light linens, patterns that wow and neutrals that blend. But one thing is constant: When they are hung badly, they make the wrong kind of style statement.

Greer says to start with a tape measure, and an iron. “Every panel is different, so if you are buying premade and not custom, even though it may say 84 inches, it can vary, so you’ll want to measure each one yourself,” she advises. “The key to making it look good is to iron it first. Don’t hang a panel thinking the wrinkles will fall out, because they never will.”

Panels can be like magic, adding length to a smaller window and balance to a wide window, but only if they are hung correctly.

The most common mistakes are hanging the curtain rod too low (it should be as close to the molding or ceiling as possible), not extending the rod wide enough so that the panels can come off of the sides of the window instead of always blocking light, and

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Elaine Stephenson Interiors

hanging the panels too low (dragging the ground) or too high (not kissing the floor). “We like to set out the curtain rods four to five inches on each side of the casing to allow for maximum light through the window,” notes Nicholson. “For panel length, we like for them to just graze the floor, not puddle.”

Our experts advise putting the curtain on the rod as it will hang, and holding it up to the window to ensure the length is correct before drilling for the rod. Another sad sight at the window is a rod that bows under the weight of the curtains.

“If you are going to be opening and closing constantly, it puts stress on the brackets and you need to select a heavy-duty rod,” says Greer. “My advice on rods is to use all of the supports that come with it. You cannot hang a rod on a wide window without support.”

As for making the panels look proportionate, whether you plan to use them for light control or simply for decor, they should be able to close fully without pulling them taut. A

single panel on a very wide window is too thin to carry off the look— you need volume that echoes the window’s width.

If you are minding the budget, and don’t have a standard window height, buy the longer curtain and have it hemmed by a professional, who can also iron the panels for you.

It will cost significantly less than custom, but you can custom fit your window so the panels look best.

Challenging windows

Many homes have challenging windows that frustrate a homeowner trying to determine a good windowcovering solution. Many homes built in the 1980s, 90s and beyond have soaring cathedral ceilings, with double-height windows. A DIY solution has often been to run a curtain rod between the windows, only covering the lower window.

Greer says this is a mistake, as it lacks proportion and visually cuts the windows. You’ll most likely need a custom treatment, consisting of a curtain rod at the top window and

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Matchy-Matchy As trends do, they eventually cycle back around, and the “matchy-matchy” look is coming back in home decor in a big way, as “grandmillennials”—a mash-up term of Grandma and the generation born between the mid-1980s to 2000—embrace more color and pattern. Grandmillenials favor design trends that, well, a grandma would—think pleated lampshades, pattern-on-pattern decorating, chintz, ruffled linens and needlepoint pillows.

Drapes or window treatments that exactly match wallcoverings, or match other fabric in the room, is part of this trending look. To get it, choose a wallcovering line that offers a coordinating fabric.

A talented seamstress can even create a window covering that continues the wall pattern exactly, for a look that would make your great-grandmother swoon.

double-height panels. While this is an involved solution, it will unify the room and lend significant warmth— real and visual.

Windows that run close to a corner, leaving no room for a curtain rod, can be frustrating, especially if you crave the softness of fabric. In this case, a relaxed Roman shade could fit the bill, especially if the window is deep enough for an inside mount. The relaxed Roman has a swoop instead of a straight- across design, so a patterned fabric can shine. Nicholson says if your window is close to a corner but you want to use a rod, you can add an end cap instead of a finial, which can sometimes fit.

A bank of windows that juts out from the house, often called a bay of windows, can be tough to unify.

However, custom curtain rods can be made that hug the contours of the windows, allowing panels to be pulled across the entire bank. This prevents the homeowner from having to pull down several individual shades each time privacy is desired.

Automate it

If a window or bank of windows are too difficult to reach to raise and lower shades, automation can make life easier, and it has come a long way in the past several years. Existing shades can be automated with a DIY kit that you can purchase on Amazon for less than $100, allowing you to put a shade on a timer, or control it from your phone.

Most companies that sell custom window treatments offer automation, and you can choose from a handheld remote or wall-mounted control.

A battery operation is possible for windows that don’t have a nearby outlet. Certain brands can also be voice controlled with compatible home devices, like Google Nest or Amazon Echo.

There are more options than ever before in automation, ready-made, and fully custom window solutions, which can allow you to proceed with confidence in dressing your windows. ✦

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DESIGN adding character

in defense of clutter THE ART OF ECCENTRICITY IN EVERY ROOM

BY AMELIA POORE

f

or many years, the minimalist style all but dominated the interior design space, with white or gray walls and furnishings in simplistic shapes and virtually no personal effects—deemed mess by design sophisticates. Devoid of color or clutter, the result may look clean, but it can also feel cold and impersonal. Not to mention it’s frankly an exercise in frustration for anyone with children or pets, or anyone who wants to actually live in their space. Thus, I argue for an injection of whimsy in every room: the artful arrangement of what some call mess to craft a space that is interesting, attractive, and (most importantly) yours and yours alone. r vhomemagazine.com

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Living and bedroom spaces

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One of the most well-known and effective ways to add character to living and bedroom spaces is by displaying your book collection. We would all love to showcase our book collection on gorgeous built-in shelves, but there are lots of places to keep books that don’t involve calling the carpenter, such as coffee and end tables, a hutch or etagere, magazine racks, or even stacked on the floor. Think about organizing them by color or size, with or without their jackets. Whatever the case, to make your space uniquely yours, display only the books you love.

Another great way to show your true colors in your living space is to use those colors! You can always paint the walls, install wallpaper, or recover the furniture, but short of completely overhauling your space, start with adding or changing bed linens, throw pillows and blankets, rugs, wall art, lamps, or even a few trinkets (candles, bowls, figurines) to bring your favorite colors and textures into the room. If you love vinyl records, consider keeping your collection in a magazine rack or even on a display ledge in your living space. Show off the people you love by framing some “amateur art” made by a child or grandchild or adding a figurine passed down from your favorite aunt. Subtly bring in your favorite color by adding some pastel grosgrain ribbon to trim a white drum lampshade, or switching out the clear crystal knobs on your end tables and dressers for colorful ones. These details are not only effective, but they’re also easily changeable when you’re ready for something new. Low risk, high reward!

Kitchen and dining spaces

Kitchens and dining rooms present a unique way to add personality: linens. Tablecloths, napkins, dish and tea towels, aprons, oven mitts and pot holders, placemats—the list goes on! Obviously, you can find linens in your favorite colors and patterns, but there’s more whimsy to be had than simply adding color. Moreover, simply wanting to keep the classic all-white look for your table linens doesn’t mean you’re stuck in a plain white box. The granny-chic or grandmillenial aesthetic has prompted a re-emergence of the dainty and detailed needlework many of us remember from childhood family dinners. However, now the patterns aren’t all lace and flowers; modern geometric patterns have become popular, as well as block embroidery reminiscent of traditional German and Scandinavian designs.

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There are of course napkins to match, which can be altered by adding your monogram or (and?) a fun scalloped trim.

There are even cheeky cocktail napkins embroidered with virtually anything you can imagine: quotes from your favorite TV shows, puns about your favorite sport, or a menagerie of imbibing “party animals.”

Kitchens and dining rooms offer the unique opportunity to add whimsy through dishes. If you have a china cabinet or even glass-front kitchen cabinets, consider using them to display your most interesting tableware, not just the fine china you received as a wedding gift. Show off Grandma’s milk-glass pieces, seasonal tableware sets, or even your childhood collection of vintage jelly jars. Think of it as a curio cabinet instead of just a china cabinet; use it to display parts of yourself, not just what one would expect. If it’s feasible, consider painting or wallpapering the inside of these cabinets to really make the contents pop.

Kitchens and dining rooms are also excellent candidates for quick and low-cost fabric updates. Unlike sofas, armchairs and headboards, the upholstery in kitchens and dining rooms is typically

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ADVERTISER index

American Moving and Storage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Amy Cullen, Realtor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Better Sofas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Bower Heating & Air Conditioning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Brandon Oaks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Building Specialists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

By Design Interiors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Capps Home Building Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Carilion Clinic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Construction Marketing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 CTS&I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Dixie Products. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Elaine Stephenson Interiors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Elegant Exteriors by TBS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Elizabeth Cranwell, Realtor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 EZ Rampz. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 F&S Building Innovations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 First Bank and Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Freedom First Mortgage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Geico. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Generation Solutions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 George's Flowers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Grand Home Furnishings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Halifax Fine Furnishings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Ideal Cabinets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Indoor Outdoor Living. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Ivy's . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Jamison Design LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Jeannine Hanson, Realtor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Johnston Cooling and Heating, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Kitchen Tune-up of Roanoke. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 LinDor Arts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Magnolia Decor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Marshall Stone. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Member One Federal Credit Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Mountain City Realty & Auction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 N-Hance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 National Pools of Roanoke. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Oliveto. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Our Lady of the Valley. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Patrick Team Homes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Pitman Construction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Potter Construction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Prescott Construction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 RBC Wealth Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Reid's Fine Furnishings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Richfield Living. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Roanoke Glass Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Roanoke Valley Garden Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Ronnie Mitchell and Son Landscaping . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Seven Oaks Landscape Hardscape. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Signature Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Skyline Door & Hardware. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Susan Bailey, Realtor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 TBS Construction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 The Columns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 The French Farmhouse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 The Little Gallery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 ValleyStar Credit Union. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Virginia Furniture Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Virginia Mountain Mortgage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Whitt Carpet One Floor & Home. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

For advertising info: (434) 386-5667 or sales@westwillowpublishing.com.

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limited to the seat covers of dining chairs—significantly less complicated to recover than an entire sofa! Seat covers also won’t overpower your space, so if you’re nervous to use a brightly colored or patterned fabric on your queen-size headboard, consider using it on your dining room chairs. You’ll get the added whimsy from using the fabric you love without the risk of it dominating the entire room.

Bathrooms

Like kitchens and dining rooms, you can add whimsy to bathrooms with fun linens like shower curtains, towels and bathmats. In a full bath, humidity is often an issue, so utilizing art or wallpaper may not be practical. Consider starting with a fun bathmat and adding coordinating linens. A quick online search for “fun bathmat” will bring high quality options with multicolored tassels, textured floral and fruit patterns, pastel Persian-lookalikes, or even mock animal-skin rugs. In a powder room, where humidity isn’t as much of an issue, consider using a lively wallpaper, such as a brightly colored chinoiserie or jungle-themed mural. In this small space, it will be less expensive to install the wallpaper you’ve always wanted but never knew where to put, and your guests will always see it!

The point of adding whimsy to every room isn’t just to make it “interesting;” it’s to make it yours. The most whimsical things have a story behind them and the only way to make that happen is to select pieces that mean something to you, whether it’s a piece of your personal history or a found treasure in your favorite color. Adding whimsy is a deeply personal decision process, and you are the only person who can decide what to show and how to show it. Just remember to make it fun: Lean into your favorites, your sentimentality, and your instincts to add a little whimsy to every room. ✦ R o a n o ke Va l l e y H O M E E a r l y S p r i n g 2 0 2 2

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