Roanoke Valley Home Magazine 2020 Fall

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

design ✦ improve ✦ garden ✦ live

fresh-air

FUN

STYLE NOTES accent chairs leather accessories

IN THE GARDEN plants that wow composting

OUR FAVORITES design books art lovers’ paradise

FALL 2020

Historic low rates.

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CONNECT TO THE CONNECT TO THE OUTDOORS AND OUTDOORS AND EACH OTHER EACH OTHER

©2020 Marvin Lumber and Cedar Co., LLC. All rights reserved.

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CONTENTS Roanoke Valley HOME Fall 2020

92 16

43

features

showcase home

OUTDOOR ROOMS Bring the indoors out for fresh-air living

THE PARROTS’ NEST Art-filled brick colonial makes perfect family home

16

BY CHARLOTTE A.F. FARLEY

43

READERS’ FAVORITES HOME’s first annual Readers’ Favorites awards highlight the area’s top providers of home and garden goods and services

76

BY NOELLE MILAM

76

92

MULTISEASON PLANTS Plants to bring year-round interest to your garden

BY BECKY CALVERT

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK HOME Magazine r vhomemaga zine .com 9

DESIGN

24 FOR THE LOVE OF LEATHER

31

Home accents with fresh autumn style

BY RORY RHODES

68 STYLISH SEATING

Accent chairs provide flair and function

24

BY CHRISTY RIPPEL

90 BEST IN BOOKS

Design coffee table books to delight and inspire

BY AMELIA POORE

IMPROVE

34 STAIRCASE SMARTS

Elevate the look of your staircase

BY PAULA PETERS CHAMBERS

86 SCRUB IT DOWN, WIPE IT UP

The right towels for kitchen jobs

BY MITZI BIBLE

GARDEN

31 COMPOSTING 101

Upcycle kitchen scraps into garden gold

BY KATHERINE FULGHUM KNOPF

LIVE

86

38

28 ON THE HUNT

Buying a house with efficiency

BY KENDALL ATKINS LIVICK

38 THE BEAUTY OF BEANS

A nutritional powerhouse for your pantry and meal planning

BY SLOANE LUCAS

72 SEASONAL FLAVORS

Warm, spicy recipes for fall dining

BY MARSHA GALE

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Decks · Windows · Roofing · Awnings · Siding · Doors

1111 E. MAIN STREET, SALEM, VA • TANDCRENOVATIONS.COM 540.772.7770 r vhomemaga zine .com 11

LOCAL EDITOR’S note HOME has embraced this change in season and our fall issue is full of the timely and interesting articles and gorgeous photographs to which our readers are accustomed. Our Showcase Home article, “The Parrotts’ Nest,” will delight the art lover in all of us. The Parrotts’ art collection is impressive and their support of the artists in and around Southwest Virginia throughout the past 35 years is admirable.

This issue also features our first annual Readers’ Favorites awards. Earlier this year, our readers nominated and voted on their favorite Roanoke Valley providers of home- and gardenrelated goods and services. We’re sharing the list of winners and we hope you’ll value it as a resource guide for future plans and projects in and around your home.

As we continue to spend more time at home, the cooler fall temperatures will make using our outdoor spaces more enjoyable. Charlotte Farley’s article about open-air rooms will help you make the most of your outdoor space. We’ve all been cooking more than usual, which leads, inevitably, to food scraps.

“Composting is Cool” will offer helpful composting tips to up cycle your food waste.

Inside, perhaps your staircase could use a makeover. Step it up with unique design tips and upgrades to make it a focal point.

Who doesn’t love a gorgeous coffee table book? Read about our favorite interior designers’ books and be inspired! I adore leather furniture, but leather accents are turning up in new places around the home adding texture, form and function to our interiors.

Food and meal prep has become an integral part of the past few months. Culinary Corner exudes autumn flavors with recipes that bring warmth (and spice) to cool fall evenings such as a pear pizza appetizer or Apple Pie Martinis. Cheers! A pot of beans simmering on the stove can feed a hearty appetite; “The Beauty of Beans” is truly a primer about bean varieties and their benefits—plus the Chipotle Chickpea Taco recipe will be a welcome addition to your meal rotation.

Take some time to delve into this issue of Roanoke Valley HOME. It just may be the escape you’ve needed. Embrace the change in season. Relish the days of Indian summer; the greens turning to golds and reds will surely offer much needed solace.

Take care and thank you for reading, Anne Marie Poore

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What’s it really like living at Brandon Oaks during these times?

Just ask Joseph and Carol Masters.

My wife, Carol, and I moved to Brandon Oaks about four months before COVID-19. The Brandon Oaks team quickly put a plan and procedures in place to help ensure the health and safety of residents. Like limiting interactions to small groups, wearing face masks, and appropriate social distancing. Plus, meals were delivered to our doorstep each day, and dedicated staff assured our housekeeping, laundry and maintenance services continued. Even the beautiful campus provided us the opportunity to enjoy fresh air as off-campus travel was discouraged. We are blessed to be among the residents of Brandon Oaks, where we can be active, healthy – Joseph J. Masters, Ph.D. and safe.

Schedule a personal appointment today, with proper safety measures in place, to learn more about Brandon Oaks by contacting us at (540) 777-5602 or brandonoaks.net/visit.

3804 Brandon Ave, SW • Roanoke, VA 24018 • (540) 777-5602 • www.brandonoaks.net r vhomemaga zine .com 13

HOME ROANOKE VALLEY

VOLUME 13 ISSUE 4 PUBLISHER Julie Pierce EDITOR Meridith Ingram ART DIRECTOR Edwana Coleman LOCAL EDITOR Anne Marie Poore

Fire

Storm

Mold Remediation

Water

Remodel & Restore

Biohazard

540.725.3900

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mitzi Bible Becky Calvert Paula Peters Chambers Charlotte A.F. Farley Marsha Gale Katherine Fulghum Knopf Kendall Atkins Livick Sloane Lucas Noelle Milam Amelia Poore Rory Rhodes Christy Rippel PHOTOGRAPHERS Dara Farrar Kevin Hurley

Member/Registered with ®

FEATURE HOME CONTRIBUTOR Noelle Milam

VASCUPP

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.

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Copyright 2020 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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open-air rooms

LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE FROM THE INSIDE OUT

T

BY C H A R LOT T E A . F. FA R L E Y

hose of us who call Virginia home are lucky to live in a place where we can thoroughly enjoy the outdoors for three full seasons—or all four if the winter proves mild. Combine our great climate with a continuous quest for less screen time, and the idea of an indooroutdoor room becomes even more appealing. After all, when was the last time you thought you needed less fresh air?

While we all love a screened-in porch or a sunroom, another option is an indooroutdoor room—the creation of a covered space outside that seamlessly blends interior and exterior living. A great open-air room offers the best in both: fresh air, scenic views and creature comforts galore.

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The concept isn’t entirely new. Frank Lloyd Wright, whose signature style famously blurred the lines between the outdoors and the indoors, explained it best: “We have no longer an outside and an inside as two separate things. Now the outside may come inside, and the inside may and does go outside. They are of each other. Form and function thus become one in design and execution if the nature of materials and method and purpose are all in unison.”

If the words of that iconic architect speak to you, here’s how you can create a beautiful balance of bringing the outdoors in and the indoors out.

Open up the possibilities

PHOTO AND PROJECT: SOUTHERN LANDSCAPE GROUP

PHOTO AND PROJECT: SOUTHERN LANDSCAPE GROUP With a desire and vision for an indoor-outdoor room with water views, the homeowners of this Smith Mountain Lake home transformed this onceunused space under the deck into a peaceful retreat. Two sets of sliding doors make it easy to access this cozy hideaway equipped with a fireplace, comfortable seating and ambient lighting.

1 8

If you’re interested in adding an openair room to your home, you’ll need to determine where this room can go. Are you going to create this new space from scratch? You might not need to if you have a place you can retrofit and turn into the plein-air room of your dreams. Start by sizing up your assets and evaluating which interior rooms are adjacent to your back or side yard. This might be the kitchen, dining room, or living room. Maybe you have a few large, lovely windows that look out onto plenty of backyard space. If you already have a patio or deck, you might want to repurpose it into a covered space to maximize enjoyment. If you have space outside your home that won’t eat into the rest of your yard or garden, you can likely create an outdoor room.

To start, you’ll need a level space, but if you’re building the room from the ground up, you may need to consult with a professional landscaper or contractor to ensure a proper foundation. Whether this is going to be a DIY pursuit or whether you’re hiring a contractor, be sure that you’ve obtained the proper permits and permissions necessary to begin your project. From ceramic tile and brick pavers to poured concrete or artificial grass (which has come a long way since the 1980s), options abound. The ideal flooring will be solid, weatherproof, and help continue that seamless connection between indoor and outdoor spaces. If possible, choose natural materials that speak to the surrounding landscape.

As you consider what needs to go underfoot, don’t forget about what needs to go overhead.

A covering of some kind is important in these kinds of rooms; they offer refuge R o a n o ke Va l l e y H O M E F a l l 2 0 2 0

from rain and shade from the blistering sun. Not only will a roof extend the concept of indoors to the outdoors, but it will also help define this space.

The question, then, is what will work best as a roof or partial roof? You might be able to extend the roof of your home over the designated space, and if that’s a possibility for you, then consider adding skylights. Skylights are wonderful way to connect to the outdoors, maintain shelter, and bring in

natural light. However, extending the roof might not be the most practical choice for your home.

In that case, a canopy or retractable awning can provide adequate overhead protection from the elements.

You’ll need an entrance and exit, and one of the best ways to link your interior to the outdoors is with glass. You may want to install windows (or enlarge existing windows) to help you maximize

WHETHER YOU’RE CREATING A PERSONAL OASIS, AN AL FRESCO DINING EXPERIENCE, OR AN OUTDOOR FAMILY ROOM, THINK ABOUT THE WAYS IN WHICH YOU’LL MOST OFTEN USE THIS SPACE. WITH THAT IN MIND, OUTFIT YOUR SPACE WITH DESIGN THAT’S BOTH FUNCTIONAL AND BEAUTIFUL.

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PHOTO AND PROJECT: CONSTRUCTION MARKETING

In Roanoke, Construction Marketing created this freestanding outdoor living space that provides homeowners with a way to enjoy nature while being protected from the elements. Surrounded by woods, yet steps away from the main property, this 400-square-foot sanctuary features remote control-operated retractable screens, a pizza oven and a gas fireplace.

garden views. On the other hand, you could replace your current windows with sliding doors or swinging French doors. To really up the wow factor in your design, consider glass bifold doors. NanaDoors is one company that specializes in such operable glass doors (think sliding or frameless glass walls). If your outdoor view is nothing short of breathtaking, then why not ask your contractor if an around-the-corner window would be feasible? Remember, the goal here is to increase your view and access to the outdoors, and the larger the view, the more connected you’ll feel to the outdoors. Whatever option you choose will be determined by your home’s architecture, your budget and your vision. A great contractor will be able to help point you to the best choices for your home.

Create a beautiful, cohesive design PHOTO AND PROJECT: CONSTRUCTION MARKETING 2 0

When it comes to setting up an indoor-outdoor room, the key word is seamless, and carrying the look of your interior design into your outdoor design will help create a cohesive connection. Choose similar or complementary materials, trim colors, and other accents that will make it seem as if this room has always been R o a n o ke Va l l e y H O M E F a l l 2 0 2 0

a part of your home. You might even be able to use the same flooring in your outdoor room that you use in the adjacent room if the flooring is practical for outdoor use (like certain kinds of tile). Today’s outdoor area rugs are a far cry from the plastic camping rugs of yesterday, so you can easily find an indooroutdoor rug that can work well in both spaces (Dash & Albert is a go-to for rugs that can withstand the elements). The idea here is to make it feel like the living you do inside can take place similarly in the out-of-doors, as if one room blends into the next.

Every room requires comfortable seating, and this one is no different. There are so many great furnishings on the market, from wrought iron and wicker to furnishings upholstered in weather-resistant fabric like Sunbrella. But before you go shopping for new outdoor furniture, visualize how you and your family will use this space. Do you love the idea of dining al fresco three seasons of the year? Then you’ll need a large dining table that can withstand the weather. You might even entertain visions of an outdoor kitchen complete with a built-in grill and bar. With a few swivel stools at the counter, you’ll feel like you’re vacationing at a resort every time you step into the space.

On the other hand, maybe your family wants to enjoy some plein-air entertaining and host the big game on the big screen while enjoying breezes and sunsets. In this scenario, you’ll want some kind of cozy sectional, an outdoor TV (yes, they make them now!), and a place on which you’ll mount that TV. You might simply want to feel more connected to the natural world and prefer simple furnishings, a café table, and outdoor lighting for you to read, relax, and while the time away.

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PHOTO AND PROJECT: SOUTHERN LANDSCAPE GROUP This indoor-outdoor lounge is quite different from its earlier life as an unused patio with a worn-down pergola. The homeowners modified this space into a screened-in outdoor living room that opens onto a patio complete with a chiminea, water feature and dining area. By adding a fireplace, the family can enjoy using this room even when the temperatures dip.

Whether you’re creating a personal oasis, an al fresco dining experience, or an outdoor family room, think about the ways in which you’ll most often use this space. With that in mind, outfit your space with design that’s both functional and beautiful. If the room is as comfortable as it is lovely, you’ll be tempted to spend your days and nights here. Speaking of comfort, don’t forget heating elements so that you can enjoy this room in the chilly days of fall or even during a mild winter. Larger hardware stores carry safe outdoor heaters.

Sometimes called patio heaters, you can choose from electric or gas heaters, chimineas, or fire pits. Along the same 2 2

PHOTO AND PROJECT: SOUTHERN LANDSCAPE GROUP R o a n o ke Va l l e y H O M E F a l l 2 0 2 0

lines, be sure to install a few overhead fans, which will feel like a lifesaver during Virginia’s hot and humid summer days.

Soft lighting is a must-have for any indooroutdoor room. After all, you’ll want to enjoy this space long after the sun goes down. Lanterns come in a wide variety of sizes and colors, and you can move them around easily if needed. Carriage lamps and basic deck lighting are traditional choices, and you can’t go wrong with candles flickering in hurricane glasses for ambience and charm.

Outdoor chandeliers and weather-proof table lamps are also attractive lighting options.

If you are one of the lucky ones with green thumbs and have a gorgeous garden or yard, then you may have very little to do in the decorating department. And whether you’ve cultivated prizewinning landscapes or not, you’ll still want to incorporate touches like accent pillows, throw blankets, string lights, garden stools, or bar carts.

By transforming your home and creating an indoor-outdoor room, you can take full advantage of Virginia living and trade screen time for sunsets, busyness for breezes, and four walls for the great outdoors. ✦

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DESIGN leather looks

in love with leather

UNEXPECTED ACCENTS OFFER FRESH AUTUMN STYLE

BY RORY RHODE S

W

hen you think of leather in home decor, do you envision a traditional study with dark, masculine colors and heavy furnishings? Perhaps a tufted Chesterfield sofa, or a library chair with Queen Ann legs—cigar and brandy snifter optional? While it’s true that leather has been used as furniture for centuries, new shapes and applications make it very much of the moment.

In modern interpretation, leather is a textural element, and its warmth is the perfect autumn accent. It can be utilized in a variety of ways to impart any feeling, from ancestral to du jour, refined to rustic. Using leather in unexpected ways, beyond the time-honored chair or sofa, can give your home an effortlessly stylish update.

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TYPES OF LEATHER

Common terms you’ll encounter when selecting leather: FULL GRAIN: The highest quality available, and the most expensive. It’s the top layer of hide close to the hair. Thin, will have natural blemishes, but ages beautifully.

TOP GRAIN: The secondhighest quality. It’s thicker than full grain and has had marks and blemishes sanded away.

Strong and durable.

GENUINE LEATHER: The third-highest quality, also known as “corrected leather.”

Lower layers of the hide are fused together.

BONDED LEATHER: Made from leather scraps and shreds, combined with a filler and embossed for texture. Not known for durability; best for short-term uses.

NUBUCK: Made from top grain leather which is sanded to produce a soft, velvety texture.

Thick and strong.

SUEDE: Comes from split leather (the middle or lower section of the hide) that has been textured to produce its distinctive finish. Softer than nubuck; open pores mean it’s easily stained by water and oil.

VEGAN LEATHER: An ecoand animal-friendly option for the look of leather. Affordable, can be made from a variety of materials, often polyurethane.

Will not patina; not known for longevity.

ANILINE: Refers to the dye used in processing. Retains leather’s natural markings and blemishes, making it the most natural looking. More likely to scratch.

SEMI-ANILINE: Processing with a pigment instead of dye hides natural imperfections to make it look more uniform.

Lasts longer and is more resistant to water and sunlight.

r vhomemaga zine .com 25

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There are many fresh and imaginative ways to use leather in your home. Know that while there are a multitude of both fun and traditional colors to suit any taste, shades of tobacco and caramel are especially current in modern leather decor.

In a bedroom, tufted headboards offer a cozy and classic vibe, while smooth and sleek lines can have a bohemian, West Coast or rustic appeal. A leather bench at the end of the bed offers an inviting spot to sit or drape a bathrobe and slippers.

Leather-covered poufs and ottomans fit a range of aesthetics, often casual or Moroccan. Likewise, a leather stool offers a comfortable place to perch or put your feet up. For underfoot, consider a leather rug. They are generally hair-on-hide patchwork rugs in a pattern such as rectangular strips or herringbone, with tonal colors in grays and browns. Their pattern and texture make them a welcome addition to many spaces, including a family room, office or bedroom.

R o a n o ke Va l l e y H O M E F a l l 2 0 2 0

Leather floor and wall tiles are a creative alternative to more traditional materials. They offer a warm, luxurious feeling and also function well for sound absorption, making them a good choice for movie or music rooms.

Drawer pulls and cabinet hardware can be made of leather too, and look chic on chests of drawers, desks and cabinetry.

They can be purchased easily online, but are also a fairly simple DIY project if so desired.

Leather is a natural fit for desks, especially as an inlay, which offers a sophisticated touch. Desks with slender legs will balance the richness of the style; pair with a modern chair for an updated look.

Accessories are a wonderful way to add a touch of leather to any space without a major investment. Throw pillows, trays and trinket dishes are fun and easy additions. Leather desk accessories are a stylish accent your workspace. A home bar gets a dash of panache with a leather ice bucket and coasters.

Tooled leather, which is embossed with a pattern (typically flowers, vines, and leaves) is an eye-catching option. Though

more commonly seen in western wear such as belts, boots and handbags, it can be found in accessories such as trays and mirror frames. It makes a fun statement piece, and looks especially good when paired with silver.

Care and cleaning

Leather can dry and crack, so it’s best to keep it away from direct sun and heat.

It also needs to breathe, so never store it in plastic. While some people value the aesthetic of distressed leather, to keep it in top condition wipe it with a damp cloth and avoid contact with oil, including from hands or skin. Special leather cleaners and conditioners are your best bet for leather care. Be aware that some of them contain lanolin, which tends to soften leather.

For suede, use only a dry suede brush, never water or anything damp.

The warmth and texture of leather is an inviting accent to any space. Whether a furnishing or an accessory, full grain or vegan, there’s something to suit every style, taste and budget. ✦

Enduring tradition, superior craftsmanship.

ReidsFurnishings.com r vhomemaga zine .com 27

LIVE real estate

house hunting

WITH HEART AND EFFICIENCY B Y K E N DA L L AT K I N S L I V I C K

My young family of four is on the brink of a big move. THE move. The one that will shape our little ones’ childhood memories and set the stage for bike-riding mastery, make-believe fun, backyard campouts and first dates. I know we’re in good company. The housing market is hotter than hot, with some houses receiving multiple offers and going under contract within mere hours of listing.

It’s worth noting, though, that haste can lead to regret. CNBC recently reported that almost half of American homeowners end up with buyer’s remorse, and a whopping 70 percent of millennials regret their most recent house purchases. One big reason? Settling for something that’s not quite right. In a sellers’ market with low inventory and high demand like this, haste is necessary—but haste does not have to equal carelessness.

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Oftentimes, house hunters hit the road and head toward their destination only to discover when they arrive that a certain aspect of the home is a deal breaker. Knowing those deal breakers and narrowing down preferences can save hours of time— particularly in a time of social distancing when there may already be a few extra hoops to jump through.

Here, local Realtors offer tricks and tips to prepare, narrow down, and take action to sniff out and snag that much-anticipated next house.

Prepare beforehand

You’ve heard it time and time again: Do your homework. Before even considering needs and desires, Julie Arthur, local MKB Realtor, recommends knowing with confidence what you can afford and how much you’re willing to spend.

“The first thing house hunters should do is to talk to a lender to see what they qualify for,” she says.

“Additionally, they may even qualify for a higher mortgage than they prefer to pay per month, but at least they will know what they can search for.”

The two most important factors are price and location, Arthur emphasizes. Knowing price range up front can help narrow down the location and other search parameters. From there, it’s time to move on to the more subjective specifics. While the financial and objective aspects of home ownership—resale value, square footage, property value and mortgage interest deduction—are worthy of consideration, home buyers shouldn’t overlook emotional appeals that inspire the “home is where the heart is” feels.

Susan Bailey, real estate agent with Long and Foster, offers a home-hunting hack to narrow down the more value-based preferences. “One of the things I ask my buyers is what is it that they like about where they're currently living, and what is it that they don't like?”

Bailey instructs clients to draw a line down the middle of a piece of paper and write a list pros and cons about their current home. There’s something about putting pen to paper, she notes, that gives a person a helpful visual when considering priorities.

Questions for consideration as you make your list could be: What are you willing to live with and tolerate living without? Where do you want your bedroom? How many bedrooms do you need? Will you need guest accommodations? Do you have specific flooring needs for pets? Are you looking for a home close in proximity to work, a school system, and other places you frequent? What kind of layout and floorplan will suit your family’s lifestyle? Do you have any specifications based on hobby or professional needs, like a home office or workshop?

Do you want a neighborhood that is interactive and family friendly, or one that is more remote and quiet?

“It helps to kind of narrow that search down before you even get in the car,” Bailey says. r vhomemaga zine .com 29

Make friends with apps and tech tools

In a fast-paced market, it pays to gather information as quickly as possible and communicate efficiently with your real estate agent. Popular house-hunting apps include Zillow, Realtor.com, and Trulia. While these can be user friendly in terms of filters and notifications, Arthur says the best place to start is RVAR.com, which is timely and may feature listings that haven’t yet been recognized by the other apps.

“Click on ‘Property Search,’” she says. “This link will give the most up-to-date information on listings in the area. Each listing has a link to a map view, satellite view, street view, birds’ eye view, radius search, and various overlays.”

Beyond search tools, Bailey has mastered the art of digitally communicating with clients via FaceTime and Zoom, for both meetings and virtual tours. Believe it or not, she’s managed to sell homes entirely virtually for clients living as far as Florida, Tennessee and Washington. Even when homebuyers have had specific Feng Shui preferences for personal or religious reasons, she was able to identify homes that fit their needs and seal the deal.

From conversing, to showing, to discussing home inspection results, to writing up offers,

P R I V A T E

M O U N T A I N

Bailey says that when buyers are able to get to the heart of what they want, she is able to listen and respond accordingly, even without ever meeting in person.

Act fast

When you do your homework by getting preapproved, gaining clarity on your preferences, and using technology for quick information gathering, you’re fully prepared to snag the right house when it comes along.

But here are a few last words of advice.

“You’re never going to find it all,” Bailey says, highlighting the importance of adaptability.

“Don’t expect to get it all.”

Knowing your true priorities and scouring the market in advance will let you know which houses are worth putting in the time and effort to see in person. If time and proximity allow, walk through and pay close attention to how the home makes you feel emotionally.

Note your gut response, while also assessing whether or not the home matches your needs.

A good rule of thumb? If you find 80 percent of what you’re looking for, strike while the iron is hot. And in this market…it’s very, very hot! ✦

APPS AND ONLINE RESOURCES FOR FAST-TRACK INFO GATHERING RVAR.com (for latest, most up-to-date listings) Google Maps (for understanding topography and spatial layout) Geographic Information System (Ex. roanokeva.gov for mapping, property and general information about the neighborhood and surrounding area) Western Virginia Water Authority (for property specifics that may not be included on MLS listing) Zoom/FaceTime (for quick conversations with your real estate agent and remote tours)

R E T R E A T

Hot Springs. Nestled in beautiful, quiet Bath County, Virginia. Adjacent to The Omni Homestead Resort, this 6,000 square foot Southern Living Craftsman Preserve property offers breathtaking mountain views, impeccable detail and country club living. Features oak hardwood flooring, chef’s kitchen with an oversized island, first floor master suite with private study and morning porch, great room with 22-foot stone fireplace, oversized attached garage with storage and three separate spacious living levels. Five bedrooms, five full and one half baths. Has an excellent rental history.

169 Old Camp Lane, Hot Springs, VA 24445

Offered at $1,724,999.

S U SA N BA I L E Y, CR S , G R I , A B R a n d T h e St a r C i t y H o m e Te a m L LC .

15 years Real Estate experience selling homes, farms and unique properties.

3906 Electric Road | Roanoke VA 24018 | 540.525.1844 | susan.bailey@lnf.com | susanbailey.lnf.com

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GARDEN composting methods

COMPOSTING IS COOL TURN KITCHEN SCRAPS INTO GARDEN GOLD B Y K AT H E R I N E F U LG H U M K N O P F

Black gold, chocolate cake mix, and liquid treasure all sound like something we should want—and as gardeners, we do, since they all describe “compost.”

Gardeners use creative nicknames like these to lend importance to the ordinary. r vhomemaga zine .com 31

Kitchen scraps, sticks and twigs, and old potting soil and leaves take on a whole new worth when you start saving them instead of tossing them in the trash. Those plants you forgot to water before you went on vacation, the old salad greens and shriveled berries in the back of the fridge combined with yard debris make great fertilizer for your plants. Compost is the best ingredient you can add to your garden, and best of all, it is free. All you have to do is start the habit and you will be hooked.

Avid composters know that composting is easy once you get your housemates on board. Unless you want to be pulling vegetable scraps put of the trash, everyone has to agree to one simple routine. Inside, you need a pail or plastic container with a lid. Everything that is a fruit or vegetable scrap goes in there as well as coffee grounds, used tea bags and eggshells. When it is full, dump it in your outside compost pile or bin.

There are many variations on the basic method. For a pile, place it away from the house in a sunny spot of your yard. You can dig down a few inches to make a hollow place to pile up the scraps to contain the grass clippings, sticks and leaves you will add. To keep the smell down, and to make it tidy, many people choose to make or buy a compost bin. Garden centers and online retailers offer a variety of compost containers, or you may have the tools and supplies on hand to make one.

To construct your own, find a plastic bin or trash can with a tight-fitting lid. Drill holes in the bottom for drainage and on the sides for air. Making compost requires oxygen and accelerator.

There are commercial products you can purchase to speed up the decomposition process, but many composters believe adding natural ingredients such as old potting soil creates the best recipe.

Worms are wonderful for your compost bin. You can buy red worms from a garden store or dig some in your yard after a rain.

Place them in the compost bin with your vegetable and other leftovers, and place it in a sunny spot in your yard; you’ll want it to get 4 to 5 hours or sun each day. The more sun the better,

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as the heat does part of the work for you. The bin should also be within reach of a hose so you can add water if it gets too dry.

Compost needs to be turned every week to keep it decomposing; turning distributes the oxygen and bacteria that keep the internal temperature hot. A pitchfork works if you have a big pile; a shovel is good for a bin or you can buy the composters you turn with a hand crank to rotate the batch. Just remember the three no’s when choosing the compost bin over the trash receptacle: no dairy, no diseased plants, and no pet waste.

Moldy fruits and vegetables are fine.

There are other recipes for homemade fertilizer that take less time to implement, or are good if you don’t have the outdoor space for composting but want that natural boost for your plants.

Banana peel water: Soak 2 to 3 banana skins in roughly 2 ½ cups of water for a few days. The minerals leach into the water, which creates a natural fertilizer for your plants. Don’t dilute.

Pour directly on plants both inside and in the garden. The soaked peels can be tossed or added in your compost pile if you have one.

Compost tea: This easy-to-make fertilizer is an excellent source of nitrogen. Place 2 to 3 cups of compost (or old coffee grounds, tea bags and some old salad greens) in a pillow case or burlap sack. Put the bag in a large bucket with a lid and cover it with 10 to 15 cups of water. Let it sit for 7 to 14 days; then it is ready to use on your plants. You can dilute it 1 part compost tea to 16 parts water. Dump the compost back in your compost pile and start another brew.

Straight additives: Ground eggshells are good to sprinkle around peonies, basil, lettuce, strawberries, marigolds and cabbage. Adding ground eggshells to the hole when planting tomato plants gives them a boost of calcium and helps fight disease. Ferns, azaleas, gardenias, camellias, roses and lilies love the acidity of coffee grounds scattered around the base of the plant. Tea bags can be added near the roots of a plant to retain

R o a n o ke Va l l e y H O M E F a l l 2 0 2 0

moisture and slowly release nutrients as the tea and the bag decompose.

The Bokashi method: If you want to be able to compost all—or almost all—kitchen waste, including meat or fish scraps, then you may be interested in the Bokashi method, which is gaining popularity. In this method, a cup of the Bokashi “bran” is added to a special accompanying bucket; this bran is an accelerator that relies on beneficial bacteria to break scraps down. Bonus: The bran makes this compost bin smell sweet, almost like fresh mulch. Like traditional composting methods, you place a full bucket outside in the sun. Within a few days, you’ll have two components in the bucket; a liquid natural fertilizer forms to be poured directly on your plants using the bucket’s spout device, and solids that remain can be added to your yard compost or used as mulch around the base of your plants.

Natural fertilizers are easy and simple.

You always have the ingredients on hand and once it becomes a habit, it makes your kitchen even more functional. Composting conserves our landfills, and houseplants, trees and gardens benefit from this black gold. ✦

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IMPROVE: staircase smarts

ONWARD AND UPWARD

STAIRCASE REFRESH HAS ABUNDANT OPTIONS

T

B Y PAU L A P E T E R S C H A M B E R S

homas Jefferson believed stairs to be a waste of space. Instead of designing a grand staircase for Monticello, his home outside Charlottesville, Jefferson tucked two stairways out of sight, accessible via interior corridors. Unlike Jefferson, many homeowners have to accept a staircase that is on display to those who walk through the front door. Given their prominence, it’s wise to consider how stairs can enhance—not detract from—your home’s overall appeal.

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To carpet or not to carpet?

Carpeting on stairs is a personal preference. If you’re worried about slipping, it’s good to have something atop the tread—the flat horizontal surface of the step. Carpeting may also be the best option if the house’s stairs were constructed from lesser-quality wood, which may not be appealing when uncovered.

If the wood is good quality, but you want to muffle sound, a runner will cover the center of each tread, leaving the ends exposed. For a formal look, you can add stair rods, which are metal bars that fit where the tread meets the riser, the vertical face of the stair. Stair rods are purely decorative—the runner is secured with glue and/or staples—and can cost anywhere from $15 to $60 per rod.

The cost of carpeting or installing a runner can vary widely, just as it does with carpet elsewhere in the house. If your primary concern is to minimize slips, adhesive stair treads are an option. These are individual pieces of carpet or even rubber that are peel-and-stick (though the addition of double-sided carpet tape is advised).

Pricing on stair treads varies widely; the thicker and more decorative the tread, the higher the cost (think $5-$25 each). For a formal look, consider bullnose treads, where the front edge wraps around the lip of the stair; these can cost as much as $40 each.

Hanging on

Terminology for the hardware around a staircase is a little confusing. Balustrade encompasses the railing and the posts underneath. Banister often refers to the handrail atop the supporting posts, but it can also mean balustrade. Balusters are the posts underneath the rail; these can be spindle (turned wood), pickets (square or rectangular), or columns (rounded or square).

Often, balusters are wood, but they can be wrought iron, steel or aluminum.

To change the look of a staircase, you can switch out the elements of the balustrade, moving away from traditional Colonial to a transitional or even modern appearance. Be sure to keep the overall decor of your house in mind; you don’t want a “country casual” staircase surrounded by Victorian details and furniture.

The eye’s the limit

For the stairs themselves, there are myriad creative ways a staircase can be transformed.

A classic approach is to simply paint (or cover with painted plywood) the risers white. A white riser against a dark wood tread creates a clean, crisp look. For extra visual interest, add a runner with a fun or unexpected pattern: bold stripes, faux animal print, or oversized floral in lieu of the standard Persian. r vhomemaga zine .com 35

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For something more adventurous, consider painting each riser a different color or a different shade of the same color. An ombre staircase, in which the color intensifies (or lightens) as it ascends, is both fun and easy. Select a relatively dark hue and thin it with basic white, creating the shades needed. For a taller staircase, try a pyramid pattern, where the color moves from light to dark and then back to light again.

If the stairs lead to a playroom or are in a garage, go bright with rainbow stairs, a unique and random line-up of bright colors, or even vertical color stripes in varying widths, using painter’s tape to keep lines crisp.

For a formal approach, you can stencil a pattern on the riser, whether geometric or floral—floating, along the edges, or top-tobottom. When considering geometric or repeating patterns, pay close attention to the color and size of the images. Small patterns that have significant color contrasts can create the optical illusion of movement; you don’t want a pattern that “swims” as you’re walking up the stairs.

If you don’t want to paint…

Tiling the risers is an Old World approach, and this might require a professional for cutting and even placement. An easy and economical option is to apply vinyl stickers, which can look like tile but don’t have the weight, cost or permanence. Be sure to use vinyl stickers, however, as regular adhesive stickers are more difficult to remove.

As with any other area of your house, the staircase can reflect your personality and support your home design aesthetic.

Oftentimes, a stair update is a relatively small project that is easily managed, is cost-effective, and brings an unexpected impact in a much-used space. ✦ R o a n o ke Va l l e y H O M E F a l l 2 0 2 0

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LIVE dietary smarts

The

Beauty

of

Beans

BY S LOA N E LU C A S

I

nexpensive to buy, easy to store, simple to cook, and versatile to use: Beans have it all. If you haven’t been stockpiling an assortment of these plant-based powerhouses, it’s time to start. Beans are members of the legume family, characterized by plants that produce a pod with seeds inside. Some of these common edible seeds include black beans, kidney beans and pinto beans, as well as their close cousins, lentils and chickpeas.

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Benefits

Beans and other legumes are staples of diets all over the world, and the anchor of many a plant-based menu. They offer protein, carbohydrates and fiber in one compact package. In fact, beans feature both soluble fiber and what’s known as “resistant starch,” both of which are key for gut health because they pass undigested until they reach your colon, providing food to feed your “good” gut bacteria. Beans are rich in folate, iron, magnesium and potassium, with additional nutrients like B vitamins, phosphorus, zinc, copper and manganese.

There is also significant evidence that beans have a measurable impact on preventing cancer. The American Institute for Cancer Research published an extensive analysis based on thousands and thousands of studies, reaching a key conclusion: Eat legumes with every meal.

Not just once a week or even once a day, but at every meal.

Choosing to eat more legumes also helps the planet.

These crops decrease greenhouse gases, promote soil health and require less water than other crops.

Buying and cooking beans

If your primary concern is speed and convenience, stock up on canned beans. They are inexpensive, shelf-stable and allow you to throw a meal together in no time.

If you prefer to have more variety on hand and are able to plan ahead for meals, you may want to consider stocking up on dried beans, which are also shelf-stable but even less expensive than canned. They also take up less space in your pantry, and you can seek out unusual varieties like heirloom beans that you can’t get canned. If you buy beans dry, you will need to plan ahead for your meals, but prepping them is easy and not labor intensive.

Starting with dried beans also allows you to control the texture, so you can leave them firmer for salads or making falafel, or cook them longer, so they are softer for making dips or refried beans.

You need to take some time to prep dried beans before you cook them. Beans are seeds that contain natural enzyme inhibitors and toxins that allow them to stay dormant for long periods of time; think about how long seeds stay in their seed packets before you plant them in your garden. Some of these enzyme inhibitors and toxins, like phytates, are what cause some folks to have gas after eating beans. To get rid of these, just soak your beans in fresh water for between 12 to 24 hours, with an added 1 to 2 tablespoons of vinegar. The acid in the vinegar helps mimic the germination process, tricking the seed into thinking it’s ready to sprout, which neutralizes phytates and makes nutrients more available during digestion.

Remember that beans will swell to two to three times their dry size, so be sure to add an appropriate amount of water when soaking.

After a long soak, beans are ready to cook. They can be cooked in a variety of ways. Boil them in water in a pot on the stove, or cook them in an electric pressure cooker or even in a slow cooker. Different beans and other legumes will cook at different rates, so follow the instructions on each packet of beans (or your appliance’s cooking guide) to determine cook time. r vhomemaga zine .com 39

Top Beans

Chipotle Chickpea Tacos Try a Meatless Mariachi Monday with these delicious vegan tacos using chickpeas as the main protein.

1 15-ounce can of chickpeas or 1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas (prepared according to package directions) 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 tablespoons soy sauce 1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder 1 teaspoon garlic powder Heat olive oil in a frying pan and add chickpeas.

Sauté until golden. Add soy sauce, chipotle chili powder and garlic powder. Sauté for a few more minutes until chickpeas are seasoned and toasted through.

You can find many mainstays in the canned and dried foods aisle, including black beans, pinto beans, red kidney beans and black-eyed peas. But here are some legumes that you might want to try, to expand your bean library.

These are somewhat specialized, so you may need to order online or shop at specialty gourmet stores to find them canned or dry. If buying canned, be sure to rinse well. Brands like Eden Organic pack beans with Kombu seaweed that needs to be rinsed before eating.

Mayocoba Beans: These go by several other

Chickpeas aka Garbanzo Beans: Close

names including Peruvian, canary and Mexican yellow beans. They are thin-skinned and take on a lot of the flavor of whatever dish they are in. They are mild, creamy and buttery and make a great substitute for pintos in refried beans. These are usually found bagged as dried beans, but Goya and some other brands are available canned.

cousins to beans, you can find evidence of chickpeas dating back to Turkey around 3500 BCE. They feature prominently in a variety of cuisines, from Middle Eastern to Indian to Mexican. You can soak them for 24 hours and pulverize them in a food processor to make the base for falafel. You can soak and cook and add to salads, or mix with tikka masala sauce for Indian Chana Masala. Or, cook them until extremely soft and whirl in a blender with tahini, olive oil and garlic to make your own hummus. These are readily available both dry and canned. If you buy these canned, save the liquid after you strain the beans. That liquid is called aquafaba and can be whipped and used like egg whites to make egg-free desserts.

Cannellini Beans: Also called white kidney beans, these Italian superstars are larger and more meaty than other white beans (such as Great Northern or Navy beans) and, because they tend to hold their shape and texture after cooking, they are great for salads and soups, including traditional Italian soups like minestrone. They boast an earthy, almost nutty flavor and make great bean dip when pureed with roasted garlic. These are readily available both dried and canned.

Black Soybeans: Most people know yellow soybeans, either in their processed form as tofu or tempeh, or as edamame. But there is another type of soybean—black soybeans—which are extremely low carb (and therefore a mainstay in vegan keto diets) and can sub in where you might use regular black beans. They have a mild flavor, making them a great choice for salads, casseroles and salsas. They are also a great choice for homemade veggie burgers.

Lentils: Like chickpeas, these are technically

not a “bean” but their own category of legume.

Lentils are extremely versatile and easy to cook, requiring less soaking and cooking times than their cousins. (You can soak for 4 to 8 hours in cold water or 2 to 4 hours in hot water. Lentils should be ready to eat after simmering for about 30 minutes.) They can be marinated and eaten cold in salads, cooked with savory sauces and served over rice, or pulverized as a base for vegan meatless meatballs or burgers. Due to their easy prep, lentils aren’t as commonly sold canned and are usually found dry. ✦

You can create a taco bar with flour and corn tortillas, fresh roasted corn kernels or canned corn, avocado slices or guacamole, salsa, cheese and fresh cilantro.

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READERS’ FAVORITES THE RESULTS ARE IN! Earlier this spring, HOME magazine readers cast thousands of votes for their favorite home and garden-related businesses in the area in our first annual Readers’ Favorites Awards. Here, we are delighted to share the winners, many of whom won multiple awards in various categories. If you need goods or services for your home, these pages may be a great place to start to find your favorite.

r vhomemaga zine .com 4 3

READERS’ favorites

CONTRACTORS, REMODELERS & HOME BUILDERS ARCHITECTS Platinum: Mid Atlantic Architects Group, PLLC Gold: Balzer & Associates Silver: Interactive Design Group

ELECTRICAL Platinum: PSG Service Group Gold: Shively Electric Silver: Cline Electric

FENCING AND RAILINGS Platinum: Sam’s Fencing Gold: Powers Fence Gold: Viking Fence Silver: Snell Fence Co

GENERAL CONTRACTOR Platinum: Pitman Construction Gold: Dollman Construction,Inc Silver: F&S Building Innovations, Inc

GUTTERS Platinum: Brothers who just do Gutters Gold: Cook Siding & Window Co

HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING Platinum: 4 Seasons Heating & Air Conditioning Gold: Cundiff Heating & Air Conditioning Silver: WC Butler Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc

HOME BUILDER Platinum: Pitman Construction Gold: Dollman Construction, Inc Silver: F&S Building Innovations, Inc

HOME RENOVATIONS & REMODELING Platinum: Dollman Construction, Inc Gold: Pittman Construction Silver: F&S Building Innovations, Inc Silver: Consolidated Construction Services, Inc

PLUMBING Platinum: Wisler Plumbing Gold: Ostrom Electrical, Plumbing, Heating & Air Silver: McQuire Plumbing and Heating

ROOFING Platinum: Baker Roofing of Roanoke Gold: Vinton Roofing Silver: Bob Riddick Home Services, Inc 4 4

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PITMAN CONSTRUCTION PLATINUM: GENERAL CONTRACTOR PLATINUM: HOME BUILDER GOLD: HOME REMODELING/RENOVATION Pitman Construction has been serving Southwest Virginia for over 40 years. Walt Derey, president, joined his father and company founder Bud Derey in 1997 after graduating from University of Virginia and playing football for the Cavaliers. The company’s services include all phases of design and construction on residential and commercial jobs of all scopes and sizes.

“Our reputation is our calling card,” says Derey. “We take a lot of pride in our work and people.”

As a Roanoke native, Derey feels deeply connected to his home town. “I take a lot of pride in raising my family here and making it a great place to live, whether it’s through work, community or service,” he says.

Building custom homes and additions and completing renovations means every job is different, each customer is unique. “I enjoy working with people and helping them realize their vision. I have made a lot of great friends over the years doing work that is creative and satisfying,” says Derey. “It’s always interesting to learn about what’s important to them.”

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r v h o m e m a g a z i n e . c o m 47

READERS’ favorites

SERVICE PROVIDERS BUILDING MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES Platinum: 84 Lumber Gold: Capps Home Building Center Silver: Ideal Building Supply

HOME AUTOMATION AND SECURITY Platinum: Security Lock and Key HOME CLEANING SERVICES Platinum: The Happy Housekeepers Gold: Sunshine Cleaning

HOME FUEL COMPANY Platinum: Webb’s Oil Corporation Gold: Davenport Energy Silver: Glenwood Oil & Automotive

MOVING COMPANY Platinum: Virginia Varsity Transfer Gold: Heritage Moving Silver: J & W Global Construction

PAINTER Platinum: Custers Custom Painting Gold: Brian the Painter

PEST CONTROL Platinum: Bug Man Exterminating Gold: Perdue Exterminating Silver: Superior Exterminating

WATER & FIRE RESTORATION AND CLEAN- UP Platinum: Serv Pro Gold: Consolidated Construction Services, Inc Silver: ServiceMaster of Roanoke, Blacksburg, Martinsville & Princeton

WINDOWS & DOORS Platinum: Capps Home Building Center Gold: SJ Neathawk Window and Door Gallery Silver: Skyline Door & Hardware

WOOD, CABINET AND FURNITURE REPAIR AND REFINISHING Platinum: Astonish Antique Restoration Gold: N-Hance

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Thank you for allowing us to serve you for 30+ years!

Residential • Commercial • Local • Long Distance

& SELF STORAGE

Franklin Rd. Storage NOW OPEN! Personal • Business • Lifestyle • Beyond Storage

500+ Units • Meeting Rooms • Business Center • Private SkyBoxes r vhomemaga zine .com 4 9

PHOTO: DARA FARRAR

NATIONAL POOLS OF ROANOKE PLATINUM: OUTDOOR FURNITURE PLATINUM: SWIMMING POOLS PLATINUM: SPA AND HOT TUBS/SALES AND SERVICE Since 1977, National Pools of Roanoke has been providing what customers need for outdoor fun—pools, spas, outdoor furniture and more. Founding owner, Winky Vaughan, is still active with the company today.

“We specialize in designing and building custom in-ground gunite pools throughout Southwest Virginia,” says Ginnie Vaughan, general manager, who has been with the company since 2000. “We also restore and renovate older pools and service existing inground pools.”

Vaughan says they’ve been able to adapt their in-person customer service as they navigate the pandemic. “Being flexible and understanding will make customers come back,” she says, noting they have a very loyal customer base.

The best part of being in the pool and spa industry in the Roanoke Valley area, says Vaughan, is the chance to help design and sell opportunities for families to spend time together. “We help create a ‘staycation’ for families to enjoy for many years,” she says.

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ELAINE STEPHENSON INTERIORS PLATINUM: INTERIOR DESIGNERS GOLD: HOME ACCESSORIES AND GIFTS Listening to clients’ needs and delivering beautiful designs in response is what makes Elaine Stephenson Interiors a local favorite. Elaine Stephenson, founder and president, started the firm 22 years ago.

“My goal is for the interiors to reflect my client’s personality,” she says. “I truly want their style reflected in the finished product.”

Stephenson, whose services run the gamut of space planning, color consultation, fabric and wallcovering selections, custom furniture design and more, says working in the Roanoke Valley area has been rewarding. She appreciates the relationships she has built. “My favorite thing about my clients is learning what they love and respond to in their interiors. It is a gift to get to know them,” she says.

In interacting with and designing interiors for a range of clients, Stephenson also gets to flex her creative muscle. “I get to interact with a wide variety of clients and that keeps me more creative,” she says. r v h o m e m a g a z i n e . c o m 51

READERS’ favorites

GARDEN & LANDSCAPE GARDEN SUPPLIES AND ACCESSORIES Platinum: Townside Nursery Gold: Capps Home Building Center Silver: Country Corner

LANDSCAPE AND HARDSCAPE, DESIGN/BUILD Platinum: Varsity Landscaping & Grounds Gold: Seven Oaks Landscape and Hardscape Silver: Roanoke Landscapes

LAWN AND LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE Platinum: Varsity Landscaping & Grounds Gold: The Guys in Purple Silver: One Earth Landscapes Silver: Seven Oaks Landscape and Hardscape

NURSERY Platinum: Townside Nursery Gold: Greenbrier Nursery

OUTDOOR FURNITURE Platinum: National Pools Gold: Indoor Outdoor Living Silver: Better Sofas

DECKS AND PORCHES Platinum: F&S Building Innovations, Inc Gold: Virginia Building Services of Roanoke, Inc Silver: Construction Marketing

SPA & HOT TUB SALES/SERVICE Platinum: National Pools Gold: Water by Design Silver: WaterWorks Hot Tubs and Pools

STONE, BRICK AND HARDSCAPE MATERIALS Platinum: Boxley Gold: Marshall Stone Silver: General Shale

SWIMMING POOLS Platinum: National Pools Gold: Virginia Pool and Sales

TREE SERVICE Platinum: Paul Bunyan Gold: Bartlett Tree Experts Silver: Woody’s Tree Service 5 2

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Experience the difference Landscaping is an extension of your home.

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Design

Build

Maintain

READERS’ favorites

HOME FURNISHINGS, DECOR & INTERIOR DESIGN ANTIQUES Platinum: Black Dog Salvage Gold: Ellie Proctor Antiques and Fine Things

APPLIANCES Platinum: Austin’s Appliance Center Gold: Vinton Appliance Center Silver: Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery

ARCHITECTURAL SALVAGE Platinum: Black Dog Salvage ART GALLERY/STUDIO Platinum: The Little Gallery Gold: Taubman Museum Silver: LinDor Arts

CABINETRY, KITCHEN & BATH Platinum: Capps Home Building Center Gold: Ideal Cabinets Silver: Carter’s Cabinet Shop

CONSIGNMENT FURNITURE Platinum: Ellie Proctor Antiques and Fine Things Gold: Queen Bee Consignments

COUNTERTOPS Platinum: Johnson Granite Gold: Rockfab Silver: Premier Stone

CUSTOM FURNITURE MAKER Platinum: John Davis Gold: Fine Line Interiors, LLC Silver: K C Collections

FLOORING Platinum: Fashion Floors of Roanoke Gold: Whitt Carpet One Floor & Home Silver: Capps Home Building Center

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Artful Living

Surround Yourself with the Extraordinary 301 Market Street, Roanoke, VA 24011 540-206-2936 | TheLittleGalleryVA@gmail.com | www.thelittlegallerysml.com5 5 r Open v h o m e m a g a z7 i n eDays .com

READERS’ favorites FURNITURE Platinum: Reid’s Fine Furnishings Gold: Grand Home Furnishings Silver: Ellie Proctor Antiques and Fine Things Silver: Better Sofas

HOME ACCESSORIES & GIFTS Platinum: George’s Flowers Gold: Elaine Stephenson Interiors Silver: Ellie Proctor Antiques & Fine Things Silver: Magnolia

INTERIOR DESIGNERS Platinum: Elaine Stephenson Interiors Gold: Sean Doherty Silver: Emily Mangus Interiors Silver: Magnolia

LIGHTING FIXTURES Platinum: Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery Gold: Williams Lighting Galleries

PAINT & PAINTING SUPPLIES Platinum: Sherwin-Williams Commercial Paint Store Gold: Benjamin Moore/Spectrum Paint Silver: Capps Home Building Center

PICTURE FRAMING Platinum: Brambleton Frame Shop, Inc Gold: The Frame Connection Silver: Simply Framing by Kristi

RUGS Platinum: Halifax Fine Furnishings UPHOLSTERY Platinum: Maxey’s Gold: Citizens Upholstery & Furniture Co Silver: Creasy’s Upholstery

WOODWORKING & TRIM Platinum: CTS&I Building Products and Services Gold: Fine Line Interiors, LLC

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Committed to Quality, Hand-built Furniture.

Designed and crafted for you.

Thank you to the Roanoke Valley and Readers of HOME for voting!

We are proud to be a Platinum Award Winner for Housekeeping Services in the Roanoke Valley!

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PHOTO: DARA FARRAR

CAPPS HOME BUILDING CENTER PLATINUM: WINDOWS AND DOORS PLATINUM: CABINETRY GOLD: BUILDING MATERIALS, SILVER: PAINT AND PAINTING SUPPLIES For 43 years, Capps has been supplying building materials to the Roanoke Valley area. Voted top provider for windows, doors and cabinetry, Capps also sells lumber and a vast array of other building materials. They also offer design services.

Chief Operating Officer Ryan Cappellari attributes the company’s success and longevity to loyal customers. “Our customers are the lifeblood of our business, so we strive to go above and beyond to accommodate them,” he says. “As a result, I feel we have an extremely loyal customer base. They value quality and service, which I believe is why they have supported us all of these years.”

Cappellari says there’s satisfaction in providing goods and services that are highly personalized to each project, each customer. “Every day is unique and exciting.”

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WE’RE PROUD OF OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE

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Over 500 fabrics Fire Pits Free Delivery Umbrellas Replacement cushions (within 60 miles)

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More Than Just Rampz!

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PHOTO: DARA FARRAR

RICHFIELD LIVING PLATINUM: RETIREMENT LIVING COMMUNITIES PLATINUM: HOME HEALTH Founded in 1934, Richfield Living is a 52-acre retirement community offering a continuum of care, from independent living to assisted living/memory care to long-term care, as well as short-term rehab and outpatient therapy. The community is expanding to include new apartments, a town center, a new health and rehabilitation center, and more.

While Richfield Living features a beautiful landscape including two lakes and amenities galore, Lisa Clause, senior director of marketing and philanthropy as well as public information officer, says her favorite part of her work is the residents. “They inspire us to be our best self every day,” says Clause. “Many have held key positions in all walks of life, have talents that are amazing, and show kindness or encouragement to us even when they face difficulties.” She says that the diversity of the community is also important to Richfield. “We also serve generations of families who have lived at Richfield Living or had loved ones here.”

Communities such as Richfield are among the most affected by the pandemic. “The most difficult challenge has been asking family members to stay away from the campus,” says Clause. “They have been understanding but we know this time is difficult to be away from their loved one.” However, she says Richfield has seen an “outpouring of love and donations from families, local businesses, and the community at large,” noting that many people have donated personal protection equipment, funding and food to support nurses and other team members. “We have many heroes on the Richfield campus,” she says.

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Live the Life

Home starts here.

Proud to have earned four Home Magazine Reader’s Choice Awards.

Virtual displayed photo.

New Senior Living Now Open!

At Richfield Living, you'll have every opportunity for a joy-filled lifestyle.

• Spacious one or two bedroom apartments with lake views • In-home full size washer & dryer • Heated underground parking • Town Center amenities including a club lounge, fitness center, more!

Mikki Barranco NMLS# 1069468 (540) 966-0237

Choice Apartments Still Remain!

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Equal housing opportunity.

RichfieldLiving.com

THANK YOU FOR VOTING US

FAVORITE APARTMENT COMMUNITY!

The Bank of Fincastle and Colonial Mortgage thank you for recognizing our organization and mortgage lenders. We appreciate the opportunity to serve you and your family.

The Bank of Fincastle Gold Financial Institution Colonial Mortgage Gold Lending Company Mikki Barranco Gold Mortgage Loan Officer Chris Hollish Silver Mortgage Loan Officer

23 S. Roanoke St., Fincastle, VA

(540) 966-3100 | colmort.com Discover an amenity-rich luxury apartment community with 1, 2 and 3 bedroom homes nestled in a quiet location with stunning mountain views. Off Commons Parkway.

Tour our decorated model. From $1,065/mo.* Text “RAD” to 484848 to learn more!

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Offices to serve you in Fincastle, Daleville, Troutville, Cloverdale, and Blue Ridge.

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*Prices subject to change.

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VIRGINIA MOUNTAIN MORTGAGE PLATINUM: MORTGAGE LENDING COMPANIES Buying a home is one of the biggest—if not the biggest—financial transactions people will encounter in their lifetimes, says Nikki Griffin, head of mortgage lending at Virginia Mountain Mortgage. The mortgage group was launched as a full service home mortgage division of Bank of Botetourt in February 2016; the bank has been serving the region since 1899.

Griffin attributes success to her strong team of lending officers, located in 10 branches throughout the Roanoke Valley area including Lexington, Salem and Smith Mountain Lake.

Virginia Mountain Mortgage offers a wide array of products and services, such as multiple mortgage options, various refinancing options, construction loans and investment property loans. She says she and other officers enjoy the personal aspect of helping customers achieve their objectives. “Every situation is different, every situation is unique, but in the end, you are helping customers get into a home—whether it’s their first home or 17th,” says Griffin.

Griffin says that although she values face-to-face interaction with customers throughout the mortgage process, Virginia Mountain Mortgage has been able to transition to a remotely run, mostly paperless process to accommodate pandemic restrictions. “You have to be able to change and have the capability to make it work,” says Griffin. “It’s a good thing that has come out of this.”

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We believe that our region will emerge stronger and more vibrant than ever. We believe in the men and women who keep our communities running. We believe in the local businesses that form the backbone of our economy.

Thank YOU for believing in us!

bankofbotetourt.com

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Finding a house is just the beginning, making it YOUR HOME is the perfect ending.

thank you

We appreciate the HOME magazine readers who cast thousands of votes for their favorite home and garden-related businesses in the area in our first annual Readers’ Favorites Awards. If you need goods or services for your home, these pages may be a great place to start to find your favorite.

Start to finish, Amy Cullen and MKB. cell (704) 654-5111 | office (540) 989-4555 acullen@mkbrealtors.com

J. Barton Edmunds, CPA, CFP® Financial Planner 4233 Colonial Avenue Roanoke, VA 24018

Office: 540 725 4811 Fax: 540 774 4902

bart.edmunds@sagecreekplanning.com SageCreekPlanning.com

Securities and advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser.

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WE’RE LOCAL. WE’RE INDEPENDENT. We’re honored to be your favorite insurance agency.

Offering nearly a dozen companies for auto, home, and commercial coverage, Ryan Harris Group has a plan for you!

540-375-9078 ROANOKE VALLEY | SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE | FRANKLIN COUNTY 540-483-5648 | RYANHARRISGROUP.COM r vhomemaga zine .com 65

READERS’ favorites

HOME LIVING OPTIONS APARTMENTS Platinum: The Reserve at Daleville Gold: Pebble Creek Silver: Glade Creek Apartments

HOME HEALTH Platinum: Richfield Living Gold: EZ Rampz Silver: Brandon Oaks at Home

RETIREMENT LIVING COMMUNITIES Platinum: Richfield Living Gold: Brandon Oaks Life Plan Community Silver: Our Lady of the Valley

REAL ESTATE & FINANCIAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS Platinum: Bank of Botetourt Gold: The Bank of Fincastle Silver: Member One Federal Credit Union

FINANCIAL PLANNING Platinum: SageCreek Planning & Investments Gold: Davenport Silver: UBS Financial Services Silver: Dominion Risk Advisors

HOME INSURANCE Platinum: Brogan Insurance Gold: Ryan Harris Group Silver: Banks Insurance Silver: Dominion Risk Advisors

MORTGAGE LENDING COMPANY Platinum: Virginia Mountain Mortgage Gold: Colonial Mortgage Company Silver: Atlantic Bay Mortgage

MORTGAGE LOAN OFFICER Platinum: Bob Williams, Atlantic Bay Gold: Mikki Barranco, Colonial Mortgage Company Silver: Chris Hollish, Colonial Mortgage Company

REAL ESTATE COMPANY Platinum: MKB Realtors Gold: Long & Foster Silver: Divine Fog

REALTOR Platinum: Susan Bailey Gold: Norm Pullen Silver: Amy Cullen 6 6

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DESIGN accent seating

A CHAIR FOR EVERY ROOM How to choose accent seating

BY CHRIST Y RIPPEL

A

ccent chairs are the fun counterpoint to the functional sofa. They can impart a dash of whimsy to a room, providing a welcome spot for guests or a favorite area to curl up with a good book. If you are contemplating new seating for your home, you have more options than ever before, including chairs that swivel or recline, or accent seats that aren’t even chairs, like a chaise, bench or stool.

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If you feel overwhelmed by the selections, ask yourself the following questions, and the answers will help point you to the best seating options for your space.

What do I want to do in this room?

If you want a reading nook, you’ll need a sink-in chair that invites staying awhile. A wingback, with its high back and curved sides, is a timeless choice. Originating in the 17th century, it was created to protect the occupant from drafts, so it makes a cozy reading spot. A club chair would also suit, since its original French name translates to “the comfortable chair.”

It has simple curved lines, a low back and is traditionally clad in durable leather, though it can be found in any fabric. If you want something modern and midcentury, the Eames lounge chair is now a classic. Husband and wife team Charles and Ray Eames set out to create a chair that captured the look of a worn baseball mitt, and the curvy wood shell and leather upholstery on a swivel base was an instant hit. While you’ll find an original in the Museum of Modern Art, you can score a knock-off for a relative bargain. But whatever chair you choose for reading, you might consider either a chair with an ottoman or one that reclines for those long reading sessions.

If you have an empty corner in your home that you want to fill, a beautiful chair that is as much art as a seat can fit the bill, especially if you don’t plan to sit there for long stretches of time. A Bergere chair, a French upholstered armchair with an exposed wooden frame, lends a formal air to a dining room or living room corner. A slipper chair, which lacks arms and sits low to the ground, can also play well in formal spaces. If it will be rarely used, a fine fabric you can’t use in the family room can have its place without worry about wear. An unusual chair, with an exaggerated profile, splashy fabric or both, can make a style statement in a guest room corner or in a vignette by the front door or in a hallway, giving you a jolt of joy when you bypass it, whether or not it functions as a chair.

Thank you to the Roanoke Valley and Readers of HOME for voting!

r vhomemaga zine .com 6 9

What size chair do I need?

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Photos for illustrative purposes only. ©2020 Carpet One Floor & Home. All Rights Reserved 70

Scale can be tricky, and nearly impossible to get right if you pick out furniture in a big showroom without measuring first.

A chair that appears small in a store with soaring ceilings can quickly overwhelm your space once it’s delivered. If shopping in person, take the tape measure with you, and if browsing online, pay close attention to dimensions. Consider visual weight as well, because a chair with chunky arms, a high back or dark fabrics might appear larger than it is.

If you want a bargain, browse antique stores and estate sales. While a pair of chairs can be hard to find there, unique single pieces are easier to score. A coat of lacquer in a show-stopping accent color and some new fabric can make an old piece sing. Some vintage favorites feel fresh now, such as rattan and cane chairs.

For an airy look, consider an armless chair, a transparent acrylic chair (sometimes called a ghost chair), a bench or pair of stools. If the room is tight on space but has a fireplace, a bench or pair of stools in front of it utilizes the space when the fireplace is not in use.

And most importantly, when it comes to determining size, be sure you aren’t blocking the flow of the room. If you have doubts, consider putting painter’s tape on the floor in the exact size and shape of the chair you’re considering, and walk around it for several days. If it feels awkward, reevaluate.

What kind of fabric do I want?

If other seating in the room is neutral, you can inject color by choosing a bright accent fabric on chairs. If you are working with an existing sofa and neutrals speak to you, go with a coordinating neutral fabric, but don’t try to match your sofa. A match that isn’t perfect looks awkward, but coordinating neutral tones are soothing. If you have pets or children, performance fabrics like Sunbrella have come a long way and ease clean-ups.

Chairs that are slipcovered also clean up easily and many can be thrown in the wash, allowing you to freshen them up periodically.

If durability is a concern, examine a fabric’s rub count. Rub tests are done on fabrics to determine how much normal wear it can handle before it shows. For maximum durability, choose fabrics above 25,000 for frequently used chairs.

For accent chairs in less-used spaces, like R o a n o ke Va l l e y H O M E F a l l 2 0 2 0

a guest room, it’s fine to select fabrics that are lower on the scale.

What’s the style in this room?

When considering fabric and chair design, look at the other furniture in the room. Matchy-match is out, so it’s nice to vary furniture legs in the space.

For example, if a sofa is leggy, consider a slipcovered chair with a softer drape.

If the coffee table is visually heavy, a lighter profile chair with longer legs, or an armless one, can be the counterpoint.

Variation creates interest in a room.

If your style is eclectic, your options are limitless. Midcentury, modern, transitional and vintage-style chairs could all look at home in your home.

For transitional spaces, modern touches can look fresh; chairs with streamlined style can play well with more traditional pieces.

With a little forethought, a tape measure and some painter’s tape, you can ensure that your new chair selection will look perfect in your home, and will be enjoyed for years to come. ✦

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ANTIQUES / GIFTS / INVITATIONS / BRIDAL REGISTRY / HOME FURNISHINGS / CONSIGNMENT r vhomemaga zine .com 71

LIVE fall flavors

autumn al fresco

DISHES TO WARM UP COOL EVENINGS

M

BY MARSHA GALE

any of us are dining al fresco these days. The heat and pop-up thunderstorms of summer have faded, which makes dining outdoors more predictable and enjoyable. Fall dinner parties can be an unexpected seasonal delight, including appetizers and a cocktail near a fire pit, or dining in front of an outdoor fireplace.

A pretty quilt or a burlap runner on a picnic table with lanterns or votive candles creates a rustic, comforting ambiance. Keep a basket of cozy throws nearby if the temperature drops while your guests linger over dessert and coffee.

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C

ool evenings give rise to cravings for warm food with the essential fall flavors of pears, apples, earthy herbs and spices, and roasted vegetables. A lot of flavors and great textures are packed into these company-worthy recipes, although you can easily make them on a weeknight for your family as well. This menu is simple and makeahead, so you can be a relaxed host and enjoy your own dinner party.

Pear Pizza (8 servings)

Not your typical pizza, this is a delightful appetizer with pears and cinnamon amongst creamy Brie and salty Parmesan. It’s a starter, so you just want to whet the appetite with great flavor, not serve a heavy, filling pizza. Sometimes I add prosciutto and caramelized onions, but use a light hand distributing toppings.

This is a true crowd pleaser!

1 thin Boboli pizza crust Olive oil for drizzling 2 tablespoons butter 1 teaspoon dried or 1 tablespoon fresh thyme 1–2 pears, peeled and sliced 8 oz. Brie cheese, most of the rind removed, and cubed 2 tablespoons brown sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon (I just use the shaker top and sprinkle it lightly over all) 1/2 cup chopped, roasted pecans 1/2 cup shredded or grated Parmesan cheese Salt and pepper Arugula, optional

Brush crust with olive oil and set aside. Sauté pears in butter and thyme until soft, about 5 minutes. Cool slightly. Place pears evenly over pizza crust. Scatter Brie, brown sugar, cinnamon, pecans and Parmesan.

Add a little salt (remember, the Parmesan is salty already) and freshly ground black pepper. You can place the ready-to-bake pizza in the refrigerator at this point so it’s ready to bake right before your guests arrive.

Remove pizza from the refrigerator. Preheat oven to 450 (or 500 if your oven gets that hot). If you have a pizza stone, put it in the oven before you turn it on. If you don’t have a pizza stone, place pizza on a baking sheet. Bake for 10–15 minutes or until crust is crisp and cheese is melty and beginning to brown.

Top with a bit of arugula for some freshness and color, if desired. I usually use a pizza cutter and cut into thin, pie-shaped wedges or squares. Serve immediately.

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Spiced Roasted Nuts (makes 2 cups)

A delicious nibble that goes well with a cocktail or elevates a basic salad, these roasted nuts pack some sweet heat.

Spray olive oil 2 cups pecan halves 1/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed 1/4 cup melted butter 4 teaspoons Mexican hot pepper sauce (Cholula is our favorite) 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray olive oil on a baking sheet. Mix all other ingredients and spread on the pan in one layer. Bake 10 minutes until lightly toasted, stirring after 5 minutes. Cool and store in an airtight container.

Stuffed Acorn Squash (serves 4)

Roasted, caramelized acorn squash is stuffed with slightly spicy sausage, savory vegetables, toothsome farro and sweet apple along with salty Parmesan cheese and crunchy, toasted almonds. Protein, vegetables and carbs are all included, so there’s no need for a side dish unless you want to throw together a simple green salad, dressed with oil and vinegar and topped with Spiced Roasted Nuts.

2 acorn squash 2 tablespoons butter 1 cup farro 1 pound sausage (I like Jimmy Dean’s Hot sausage but use what you like) 1 onion, chopped 2 stalks celery, chopped 1 carrot, chopped 1–2 unpeeled apples, chopped small

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Apple Pie Martini (serves 1)

1 teaspoon dried or 1 tablespoon chopped, fresh parsley 1 teaspoon dried or 1 tablespoon chopped, fresh sage Salt and pepper, to taste 1/4 cup slivered, toasted almonds 1/2 cup grated or shredded Parmesan cheese, divided

Pear and apple dry hard ciders are some of my favorite libations to enjoy in the fall. However, if you want a fancier drink that celebrates the season’s fabulous flavors, this is a tasty combination of vanilla, cinnamon and apple cider, perfect for fall get-togethers (or to enjoy with your significant other in front of the fireplace).

With a sharp knife, cut the acorn squash in half and scoop out the seeds. Place squash skin side down on a sheet pan and place 1/2 tablespoon butter in each half. Bake for 1 hour or until the squash is soft and caramelized.

1 1/2 ounces vanilla liqueur 1 ounce vodka 2 ounces apple cider 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon Dash of lime juice Apple slice, optional Cinnamon stick, optional

Cook 1 cup farro according to directions on the package. Drain.

Meanwhile, cook the sausage in a skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently and breaking up large pieces, until browned through.

Transfer sausage with a slotted spoon to a large bowl leaving about a tablespoon of grease in the pan to saute the vegetables.

Pour ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well.

Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a thin apple slice and cinnamon stick if desired. ✦

Saute onion, celery and carrot until soft. Add the apple, parsley, sage, salt and pepper and continue cooking for two minutes.

Transfer vegetable mixture to the bowl with the sausage. Stir in the cooked farro, slivered almonds, and 1/4 cup of the Parmesan.

Once the squash is cooked, stuff each half with the sausage mixture and sprinkle with remaining Parmesan. Depending on the size of your squash you might have leftover stuffing. That is not a bad thing, as the stuffing is delicious on its own or atop some sautéed greens.

At this point, you can cover and refrigerate the stuffed squash if you are making this ahead. When ready to eat, remove stuffed squash from the refrigerator and preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake for 20–25 minutes or until the cheese starts to brown and the squash is heated through.

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Enter via the marbled floor foyer leading to the piano area flanking the spacious living room with fireplace. Adjacent is the breathtaking dining area with curved marble wall inlaid with Lalique Crystal and curved floating ceiling. Continue to the Chef’s EIK replete with Wolf appliances and attached dream butler’s pantry. The breakfast area flows beautifully into the comfortable library with fireplace. The master bedroom has a sitting area, walk-in closets and spacious spa-inspired en suite bath.

The generously sized second bedroom also boasts a beautiful en suite bath. The third bedroom (currently outfitted as an office) has a gorgeous adjacent bath. Audio wired throughout. Elevator leads directly to the unit. Convenient garage parking with building accessibility via private entrance is a unique bonus. Parking spaces, Fully furnished.

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THE PARROTTS’ love at NEST first sight

BY NOELLE MIL AM P h oto g r a p hy by Kevi n H u r l ey Martha and John Parrott’s stately brick home has a well-manicured front yard, with mature trees, a pea gravel drive, boxwood plantings and banks of hydrangeas. The front walkway, constructed of brick and stone to complement the home’s exterior, has gracious double stairways leading down the gentle slope to the front door. The home’s woodland setting means that the entire property is bathed in dappled sunlight and the sounds of birdsong from dawn until sunset.

It was Martha who spotted the brick colonial for sale in 2003 as she was preparing to leave for a trip to France to celebrate an upcoming birthday. “The timing was crazy,” Martha recalls. “But we had three young children then, and had been casually looking for a home with room for our family to stretch out.” Despite all the preparations for a two-week trip out of the country, Martha called local realtor Chan Bolling and made an appointment to see the house that very day.

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According to Martha, it was love at first sight. She loved the location up on a hillside in the trees, the floor plan that flowed naturally from room to room, the large living areas, and the five bedrooms. The downstairs powder room had wallpaper printed with feathers, and that seemed like a sign to someone with the last name Parrott. “I came home and told John, ‘I just have to have that house. It’s perfect,’” Martha says.

Martha and John were both born and raised in Roanoke, and have families that have been here for generations. Both graduated from University of Virginia and both returned to the area after college.

Perhaps this longevity has given them a head start on their mutual passion: collecting and displaying the work of local artists. This is a home of people who prize art; it hangs on every available wall, at every level, even up the staircase walls. Almost all of the dozens and dozens of works are by local and regional artists. John comes from a family of artists.

His cousin is a local artist of note, Mary Boxley Bullington, and his father also painted a few of the oils the couple displays in their home. “I think we began to collect art even before we were married,” says Martha. “We started with a few small things that we could afford in those early days, and our collection has just grown over the years.” Though they were given some pieces by family, the vast majority of their collection is entirely their own.

In their more than three decades of collecting, Martha and John have purchased their treasures in estate sales, from art dealers and galleries, and

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even sidewalk festivals and yard sales. They are special fans of Roanoke’s LinDor Arts in downtown Roanoke.

The home got a large addition in the 90s, before the Parrotts purchased it, and the added space has transformed the traditional colonial. The addition netted the family a handy entrance to the driveway, a powder room, a clever dining nook with a builtin bar, and most notably, a large family room overlooking the wooded back yard. “It was this space that really sold the house for me,” explains John. “I love the wood. The previous owner was in the furniture business and had the woodwork custom milled at his factory in Galax.” The unique caramel-colored wood graces the custom shelving, mantel, wainscoting and crown molding in the room and is set off by neutral-toned grass cloth wallpaper. Double French doors open to an outdoor deck and flood the room with light. Anchored by a large oriental carpet, Martha and John have chosen furnishings that are soft and comfortable but still retain a traditional structure and look, coordinating without feeling overly matched. Inviting blue velvet chairs have red piping, a color picked up in the room’s carpet, throw pillows, and even the artwork (an heirloom Peyton Klein oil, a gift from John’s parents) hanging over the fireplace. The fireplace itself is wood burning—a big attraction for the Parrott family on chilly nights.

Besides works by such local notables as Allen Ingles Palmer, Ted Turner and Walter Biggs which hang in the newer section of the home, there are

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two Mary Franklin Saunders whimsical oil paintings of parrots which were Martha’s Christmas present last year. Beneath the painting are two large porcelain parrots. “I love collecting parrots. I’ve been collecting parrots my whole married life,” says Martha with a smile. “I can’t imagine why…” There must be dozens of parrots all over the home: sculptures, wall art, tiny figurines … they find their way into most of the rooms of the Parrotts’ home, from the wallpaper in the powder room, to the many sculptures tucked here and there around the home.

The adjoining dining alcove is where the family regularly enjoys meals. The sturdy family dining table started its life as a drafting table belonging to Martha’s grandfather, who was an engineer with the Norfolk and Western Railroad. Carefully cleaned, and with some minor adjustments such as shortening the legs, the table allows the Parrott family to dine on a piece of Roanoke—and their family’s—history. r vhomemaga zine .com 79

The kitchen underwent an extensive renovation about five years ago. “When we moved in, we removed a low hanging bank of cabinets so that John wouldn’t hit his head,” says Martha. John, who is comfortably over six feet tall, adds, “Those came out, but that was really all we did for over ten years.

It was pretty dated.” The renovation has opened up the space completely. Now, custom cabinets and light colored quartzite countertops have brightened the space considerably. The Parrotts have kept the open feel of the kitchen by keeping clutter to a minimum and cleverly hiding kitchen fixtures that can’t be dispensed with. The refrigerator is camouflaged behind custom cabinetry making for a seamless wall of cabinets, and the microwave, which usually hogs so much counterspace, has been tucked underneath the island countertop. The hardwood floors, which run seamlessly from the adjoining dining room, make a nice contrast to the warm neutral walls and geometric backsplash. The 48-inch Wolf range stands testament to Martha’s cooking prowess, though she confesses that with the children mostly grown and gone, she doesn’t cook as much as she used to.

THE PARROTTS WORKED WITH JOHNSON GRANITE TO DESIGN AND FABRICATE THE COUNTERTOPS IN THEIR RENOVATED KITCHEN.

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Between the room’s two large windows hangs a Sharon Kincheloe oil of a bucolic Blue Ridge scene, almost like having a third window. The painting was purchased years ago, says John, at the Taubman Museum’s sidewalk art festival.

“We have gone every year, and we made it our goal to support our local artists by selecting at least one piece,” he says.

They write the date of purchase on the back of each year’s selection to remind themselves. “When we started, we had no money and could purchase very little, but we’d still buy something every year.”

The home has a formal living room and a formal dining room, often unused mausoleums in many modern homes, but Martha and John have found a way to incorporate these rooms into the home in such a way that they are not only used, but seamlessly flow from one area to another. The kitchen renovation several years ago provided the opportunity to open up the original narrow door from the kitchen to the dining room, transforming the closedin “formal” dining area to an open and airy space with excellent flow from the

living room and kitchen, and into the large family room beyond. The dining room features an heirloom suite of dining furniture that John received from his grandparents on his father’s side. “As it happened,” John says, with a hand on one of the elegantly carved chairs, “when the furniture became available, I was the only grandchild who had the space to take it all, so I was the lucky one.”

The art-deco wallpaper in the dining room was chosen by Martha, with help from interior designer Vera Silcox who helped Martha select all the wallpaper in the home. The blue color offsets the art in this room, from an intricate carved gilt mirror, to delicate plates, to the prized Walter Biggs oil depicting the Presbyterian church in Salem, and of course a few parrot sculptures flanking the antique silver tea service. In front of the windows, on its own Lucite pedestal, is a Dorothy Gillespie metal starburst sculpture underlit from the base. “I love low-lighting,” says Martha. “I’ve put lighting underneath several of our paintings and I think it enhances the art and warms the room at the same time. In

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fact, the first thing I do each morning is to go around and turn on those lights. It just makes the home feel alive.” The Gillespie sculpture was a gift from John.

The home’s living room has an abundance of comfortable seating, arranged conversationally on the large antique jeweltoned oriental that Martha inherited from her parents. A cowhide rug layered on top is a stylish camouflage to a flaw in the rug.

The room is a clever combination of valuable antiques and heirlooms, secondhand finds, and lots and lots of art. In the far corner stands an empire chest of drawers, with a vivid “central flame” evident in the wood. John and Martha chuckle that this may perhaps be one of their best antiques, but it was purchased by them years ago at a yard sale. “We are not overly particular about where our things come from,” says Martha. “It is just that sometimes you just know that something is the right thing for a room … it doesn’t matter where you find it.” An imposing 82

secretary desk fills the space between the windows and the back wall. The desk, originally from a Charlottesville estate, had been in Martha’s family until her uncle called one day out of the blue to ask if she’d like to have it. “I said ‘of course,’” Martha exclaims.

“Just tell me when you want me to have the movers there!” She has filled the glass-paned upper cabinet with an artful display of antique dishware, leather-covered books, and a large set of Staffordshire dogs.

The Parrotts have filled the room with things that are meaningful to their family: a stack of leather photo albums found in John’s namesake great-grandfather’s desk, a bright oil by John’s cousin, Mary Boxley Bullington, an impressive collection of tiny Herend porcelain parrots amassed atop an antique box.

Here, too, Martha and John have used almost every available bit of wall space to display art. The walls are a veritable who’swho of local artists including Sharon Kincheloe, Walter Biggs, R o a n o ke Va l l e y H O M E F a l l 2 0 2 0

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John Will Creasy and Jim Yates. Some of these treasures are hung in groupings, such as the Jim Yates collection, and others are arranged as space allows, even down to knee-level. “A long time ago I had a friend who showed me how to hang art like this. I just liked how it looked, and have started doing it myself,” says Martha.

“Plus,” quips John, “we ran out of space to put stuff.”

As their children have grown and flown for the most part, Martha and John have spent more and more time in a cozy room just off the front entry. The “Little Den,” as they call it, features just enough room for a couple of chairs and a soft leather couch. The bookcases are painted white with back walls in a startling persimmon color, making a vivid backdrop for books, family photographs, and of course, more artwork. There are family photos of the Parrott children and also several antique photos of family members from the early 1900s, notably a large formally seated photo of John’s great-grandfather (also John Parrott) and his wife. This early John was in the coal business in Parrott, Virginia, and the photo depicts Parrott great-grands in front of their home, each holding a Saint Bernard puppy (the couple avidly raised and bred the giant dogs).

The art in this room has a distinctly “fishy feel” which is by design. John Parrott comes from a long line of fishermen and enjoys fishing in his spare time. A fish oil painting hangs in front of the shelves, pottery fish is displayed on the top shelf, an antique kreel on another, even a fish lamp illuminates the corner of one shelf. This room has the largest display of art 8 4

by family members as well. There’s another Mary Bullington, but also a pair of oils done

by John’s father depicting the family’s beloved fishing camp. Other art displayed in the den includes works by Ted Turner, Peter Ring, John Will Creasy and Hale Trotter. On another wall hangs a large map of Roanoke from the 1930— back when the plats of land were still listed by owners’ names rather than the numbers we find today. John points out a large area west of town, which is labeled “Parrott.” The land was sold not long after the map was published, and the land was developed very soon afterward into the Salem VA Hospital which was opened by President Roosevelt in a memorable visit to the area in 1934.

Seventeen years later, both Martha and John are grateful to have raised their family in this home in the trees. The children are all grown, though their youngest, Buck, a recent college graduate, has returned to the nest, to find work locally. Martha and John have found other ways to share this special spot with their family and friends, notably opening the home and yard for Historic Garden Week in 2017. Looking back both Martha and John are convinced that the decision to move to Ridgewood Lane was the right call. “I still come down every morning and open a window and listen to the sounds of the outdoors,” says Martha. “I gaze at the artwork and family photos and I know we made the right choice. We love this house.” ✦

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IMPROVE dish towel options

wash, wipe, win CHOOSE THE RIGHT TOWELS AND SCRUBBERS FOR YOUR KITCHEN JOBS

BY MITZI BIBLE

M

aybe they matched your decor perfectly so you just had to buy them. Or maybe your old ones are fraying, so you quickly bought the first pack you saw. Most of us don’t give much thought to what types of kitchen cleaning cloths we should buy, choosing them more for their looks than their function.

But with the variety of products available today, we can be more intentional in our selection for the specific task at hand.

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Towel types THE OLD STANDBY: TERRY CLOTH

This multipurpose towel and dishcloth is the most common type and usually the least expensive. Take a closer look and you’ll see that this fabric (mostly cotton) has small, raised loops on both sides, making it soft and absorbent. The thicker the loops and the closer together they are, the greater the absorbency. Just make sure you buy a higher-quality terry cloth that won’t leave lint behind, especially on glassware.

Ideal uses: Drying dishes and hands and wiping up spills THE NEW AND IMPROVED: MICROFIBER

Many claim these scientifically designed towels that came on the kitchen scene in the 1990s can do magic. With thousands more fibers than a typical dish towel, these popular all-purpose towels can grab dirt with only a little bit of water, but can also absorb about six times their weight in liquid. They can endure hundreds of washings when you take care of them properly. (They can also attract a lot of lint, so if you wash them in the washing machine, make sure you do them with sheets or other microfiber towels, and don’t use fabric softener.) Often touted as a green product, many don’t need chemical cleaners to work. They are soft enough for more fragile items like glassware or a marble countertop and now come in many different vibrant colors and patterns.

Ideal uses: Almost all uses, especially washing dishes and wiping down counters, cabinets, and appliances THE DELICATE TOUCH: TEA TOWEL

This traditional towel got its name from its dainty duty of wiping down china for tea time. Whether you call it a tea towel or a dish towel, we’re talking about towels that are made of flat-woven linen or cotton (basically, smaller towels that aren’t terry cloth). The fabric is perfect for embroidery, so you can find some unique and special designs to decorate your table for multiples uses, such as napkins or trivets.

Ideal uses: Drying and polishing dishes and silverware. Can also use between pots and pans to protect from scratches when storing and use to dry and store salad greens.

THE OLD-FASHIONED BUT FUNCTIONAL: FLOUR SACK CLOTH

There aren’t many of us who can remember when flour came in cotton sacks and that when you washed and bleached the sacks, r vhomemaga zine .com 87

Get Organized!

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the flour company logos would fade away and the sacks could be used for many other purposes, like making clothes, pillowcases and kitchen towels. Today, you can buy “flour sack towels” that come in the same, plain white cotton cloth with the natural, wrinkled look just like those flour sacks of the past. (Check out Norpro Old Fashioned flour sack towels online). But you can also find flour sack cloths in decorative, printed patterns,too (often in vintage motifs). (Check out Baker’s Floursack kitchen dish towels online). Flour sack towels absorb water fast and dry quickly. The smooth, thin, lint-free cloth won’t scratch dishes. The towels often come in larger sizes than the standard kitchen towel, so they cover more surface area.

Ideal uses: Drying dishes, hands, and more delicate foods like herbs and berries, as well as polishing glassware. Also helpful for covering rising dough, straining stocks, and as a pastry cloth.

They make excellent dusters and window wipers.

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Also called “bar mops,” these are staples in restaurants and hotels, but they’re also popular in home kitchens. Generally sold in solid colors (mostly white) and in bulk (making it a cheaper alternative), there’s nothing fancy about them, but they can endure mess after mess. You can wring them out many times and they won't stay heavy and soggy.

Ideal uses: Drying dishes and cleaning up messes THE GREENER CLEANER: SWEDISH DISHCLOTH

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Paper towels are a common go-to, but if you’re looking for an eco-friendly alternative, this new material can save you from filling up the trash can. These super-absorbent cloths are made from biodegradable cellulose (wood pulp) and all-natural cotton.

Ecologie’s version of Swedish dishcloths are marketed as “Swedish sponge cloths” and indeed are made in Sweden. They are sold as a single stiff cloth that softens when wet and purports to do the work of 40 paper towel rolls and five sponges. (If you have a small home with no place to store paper towels or thick towels and washcloths, this is a great choice.) They dry quickly, so they resist breeding bacteria and don’t create odors. They come in adorable, whimsical patterns. Ecologie’s products can last over 200 machine washes but can be composted after 6 months or more. People find they are less wasteful with their paper towels when they use these special items from across the sea.

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If you think there are multiple options for towels, there are just as many options or more for dish scrubbers.

The gold (or more accurately the “silver”) standard steel wool isn’t going anywhere. It is best to use for cast aluminum pans and, of course, pots and pans that do not have a non-scratch surface. But many brands of sponges and pads offer a nonscratch product. The Lola brand makes a scouring pad called the “Wonder Scourer” that is good for wiping down kitchen appliances, cleaning your sink, and removing grease.

Brushes are also getting the thumbs up. While you can choose a simple bottle brush for narrow glasses and jars, there are also many styles with soft towel-like tips that help with wiping down and preventing streaks and scratches. Google “palm dish brush” and you’ll find some attractive options, even ones with soap dispensers and stylish saucers for setting them in.

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TOWEL TIP: LOOK FOR THE LOOP. MANY STYLES TODAY HAVE A LOOP ATTACHED FOR HANGING SO THEY CAN DRY FASTER.

Make it a combo

The ingenuity of our kitchen tool designers has been cranked up a notch with new products that do dual jobs.

I have several dishcloths with soft microfiber on one side and a plastic mesh scrubber on the other, making it easy to switch from washing dishes with soft food waste to scrubbing hard, dried-on messes. Talk about multifunctional, some products available today are like the Swiss Army Knife of kitchen cleaners. I use a silicone scrubber with a textured pattern for hard scrubbing, soft silicone bristles for wiping down surfaces, and a plastic scraper at the end. (Search “3-in-1 dish scrubber” online).

Replacing your tattered towels and washed-up scrubbers with a fresh set is an easy way to spruce up your kitchen and get the job done better, too. Some days, you may feel like throwing in the towel on your kitchen chores—and when you find the perfect one, that’s just what you should do. ✦ Punch_GenericAd_A.pdf

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DESIGN coffee table books

table your enthusiasm

COFFEE TABLE BOOKS THAT FEED YOUR APPETITE FOR INTERIORS

BY AMELIA POORE

T

oday, we do so much of our decorating and renovation research online. It can be easy to find a room-muse using social media, but why not invest in something longer lasting and (inarguably) more beautiful? So many of our favorite designers and artists publish the secrets to their inspiration in stunning coffee table books. We all love a good coffee table book—the glossy pictures, the instructive captions, and most of all, the added interest books add to our own tablescapes. Here, we’ve gathered a few of our recent favorites. With everything from the classic style of Susan Scully to the good-vibes focus of Justina Blakeney, there is something for every style and every coffee table.

“Live Beautiful”

by Athena Calderone (2020) In her latest project, lifestyle guru Calderone explores how designers craft their own spaces. In each space, Calderone studies the initial inspiration and breaks down the details of the rooms, such as layered textures and patterns, collected pieces and intimate vignettes, to showcase the journey to a complete and comfortable interior.

Calderone’s tips and tricks paired with beautiful and detailed photographs will surely get your creativity flowing.

“The New Bohemians Handbook: Come Home to Good Vibes”

by Justina Blakeney (2017) In her second book, designer and artist Blakeney guides readers in bringing positive energy to the home, both through decor and practice. The book is divided into two parts: first, understanding the elements of achieving good vibes—clarity, flow, spirit, growth, and harmony; and second, a guide to designing spaces utilizing Feng Shui, symbols from around the world, and even crystals and flowers to influence the energy in your space.

Blakeney explores how to affordably turn any space into a sanctuary by capturing the productive, soothing and inspiring energy you actually want to be around.

“Living in Provence”

by Barbara & Rene Stoeltie (authors) and Angelika Taschen (Editor) (2019) Taschen’s “Living In” series blends travel with interior studies, showcasing the exterior beauty of the region and the distinct local interiors. In this study of the Provence region of France, the Stoelties explore the most remarkable homes (with quaint olive tree and lavender gardens and tiled rooftop terraces) 9 0

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across picturesque villages atop rocky hillsides. Included are master artist Paul Cézanne’s studio, Frédéric Mistral’s (1904 Nobel Prize winner) home, and the famous Hotel Nord-Pinus in Arles. The warm ochres of the natural stone and clay that have built the region’s homes for centuries and the minimal, cool and classic elements of evolving French design make this book an inspiration for the Francophile in all of us.

“Wild Interiors”

by Hilton Carter (2020) Carter, a renowned plant stylist and plant care expert, guides readers through creating a lush interior garden that will not only look (and smell!) incredible, but can improve your mood and overall health. Hilton explores a wide variety of “plant parents” and their individual decorating styles and environments. From a tiny house in Venice, California, to a sprawling Barcelona home, Hilton presents ideas for all spaces and budgets, taking the reader room-by-room: plants that thrive in the humidity of bathrooms, the variable heat of kitchens, and the indirect light of an entryway or bedroom.

“Southern Hospitality at Home”

by Susan Sully(2019) In a classic take on interiors, Sully presents a step-by-step and room-by-room guide to perfecting Southern hospitality in your home. Focusing on the areas where we entertain, Sully guides readers through inviting foyers and living rooms, comfortable kitchens and guest rooms, and charming and functional dining spaces. Sully’s goal is to teach readers how to craft their own classic and attainable style to exude welcome, hospitality and love in our homes. Along with beautiful photographs, Sully provides an extensive resource list of trusted architects, designers, landscapers and shoppers, as well as cultural anthropologists and “Southern home finders.”

“Hygge & West Home: Design for a Cozy Life”

by Christiana Coop and Aimee Lagos (2018) The Scandinavian concept of hygge (pronounced “hoo-guh”) describes a feeling of coziness and contentedness. In their book, wallpaper designers Coop and Lagos explore different ways to infuse your space with hygge no matter where you are. Coop and Lagos teach readers the basic tenets of hygge-inspired homes: embracing nature, creating cozy spots, making plenty of space for loved ones, and imparting some personal charm into every room.

With a focus on real people with real homes, “Hygge & West Home” will help you bring some coziness into whatever space you have.

“The House that Pinterest Built”

by Diane Keaton (2017) In what is quickly becoming a classic guide to design, actor Diane Keaton takes readers on a journey as she puts together her own new home. Keaton draws inspiration from her past homes, her friends’ homes, film stills, book covers, pottery, and (of course) from her Pinterest profile to craft a dreamy space detailed in beautiful photographs. Keaton takes readers into the nitty-gritty of home design, from obsessing over bathroom light fixtures to mapping her kitchen’s layout. Keaton also explores environmental efficiency, providing great ideas for readers to adjust their own home improvements. ✦

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1,2,3 times!

multiseason foliage and flora in the garden B Y B E C K Y C A LV E R T

1,2,3 TIMES

MULTISEASON FOLIAGE AND FLORA IN THE GARDEN

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ust as there are four seasons to the year, there are four seasons to gardening—each season featuring plants with unique characteristics to make them stand out in the landscape. The brilliantly colored foliage combined with the ripening fruits and berries of autumn make for one last display of color before the more austere landscape of winter settles in. Then bare, deciduous trees fade into the background, their skeletons taking up less space in the landscape, while evergreens fill it out, taking center stage. Spring, the time of rebirth in the garden, brings something new every day. And then, there is summer, which relies on interesting foliage and plants that bloom repeatedly in the hotter months to make the garden a colorful and exciting destination.

Thankfully, there are many plants that are up to the task of offering a show-stopping quality in more than one season to make your garden an inviting place all year through. With just a little bit of planning, you can create a garden that, once established, offers year-round interest.

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Start with flowers

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When adding color to your yard, a good starting point is always flowers. While many of us spend our fall putting in spring-blooming bulbs, there are a number of other perennials that can also be planted that bloom and rebloom, providing months of color. There are the summer garden standbys: yarrow, coneflowers, rudbeckia, dianthus, astilbe, Russian sage, lilies, pincushion flowers, salvia, sedum and bee balm, which will bloom all summer once planted. These perennials either hold their bloom for months on end or bloom several times throughout the season with just a wee bit of attention on your part. A mid-summer fertilizing with a low nitrogen food combined with deadheading of spent blooms encourages these plants to continue their show while also attracting butterflies and other pollinators. There are also other plants, like irises, that come in varieties that bloom multiple times through the season when properly cared for. While the reblooming iris fall under a variety of labels (including rebloomers, cycle rebloomers, R o a n o ke Va l l e y H O M E F a l l 2 0 2 0

repeaters and all-season rebloomers), most will produce a second bloom with deadheading and adequate water and fertilizing. The majority of these rebloomers are bearded iris, but other types, like Siberian and Japanese iris are also known to offer this feature. Some of the more popular types of reblooming bearded iris include the yellow Harvest of Memory and the blue Sugar Blues. More information on the right reblooming iris for your garden can be found through your local garden center or your favorite mail-order catalog.

While some old fashioned and climbing roses will only bloom once a year, many more varieties of roses will continue to bloom throughout the summer with diligent deadheading, fertilizing and watering. You’ll want to stop this practice toward the end of August to help your roses prepare for the coming winter, but a few carefully chosen cultivars will add color to your garden all summer long.

Clematis is another perennial with some varieties blooming throughout the summer. Available in both vining and non-vining cultivars, there are clematis

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that require hard pruning to rebloom, like Gypsy Queen, and varieties that require light pruning, like Madame Edouard Andre. Then there are some like Ramona, that needs hardly any attention to all. Just let her go and she’ll produce 6 to 8-inch sky blue flowers all summer long.

There are also winter-blooming hellebores that burst forth with much appreciated color in late winter, their blooms remaining attractive well into late spring, while their foliage remains green and attractive all year long. These shade-loving plants are worth a small area in your garden as the first blooms to herald the coming spring.

Consider trees and shrubs

Beyond flowers, there is a whole world of trees and shrubs that add garden interest throughout the year as well. There are trees we equate with the coming of spring—particularly the dogwood, native to Virginia, that offers spring flowers, summer shade and fall color. Spicebushes and fothergilla are both native shrubs that bloom in the spring while offering color in the fall. Spicebush, a 9 6

native understory plant, has small yellow-greenish blooms before everything else leafs out, attracting early pollinators with leaves that turn yellow in the fall. Fothergilla, sometimes known as witch alder, is relative of witch hazel. A hardy low-growing, lowmaintenance shrub, fothergilla has fragrant brush-like blooms in early spring before leafing out in shades of blue and green. Come fall, fothergilla takes on hues that range from golden yellow to bright oranges and intense reds. Once the leaves are shed, their zigzag branches continue to add interest to your landscape throughout winter.

While many hydrangeas offer color throughout the summer season, oakleaf hydrangeas are one of the few to offer fall color with their foliage. A native of the region, oakleaf hydrangeas are not as fickle as their colorful cultivated counterparts, being mostly unattractive to passing hungry deer while being able to withstand late cold snaps, droughts and other issues that plague other varieties of hydrangeas. Oakleaf hydrangea leaves turn beautiful shades of red, bronze and burgundy in the fall before dropping off to reveal a peeling bark that highlights a dark R o a n o ke Va l l e y H O M E F a l l 2 0 2 0

brown layer underneath. This peeling is normal for oakleaf hydrangeas, adding some texture to the winter garden.

With over 150 species of viburnum, many of which are native, it can be hard to choose just one. In general, viburnum have lovely, often fragrant spring blooms, attractive foliage that turns brilliant shades in the fall, and colorful fruit that attracts birds and other wildlife. Many types of viburnum can adapt to various growing conditions and while they do best in full sun, they’ll also take partial shade. Among the varieties that do well in this area are the arrowwood, nannyberry and mapleleaf. All three boast white flowers in the spring (with the mapleleaf veering towards yellow), fall fruit in shades of green to red to blue-black, and colorful fall foliage. The mapleleaf, pink to deep purple in the fall, can grow up to 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide, while the arrowwood, with its yellow to orange fall foliage, can grow to 10 feet tall and wide. Nannyberries, which can be maintained as a small tree, can grow up to 15 feet tall, sport shades of burgundy in fall, offsetting dark blue berries.

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Trees also provide colorful multiseasonal foliage and offer interesting shapes or colorful skeletons during the winter months. One example is the shagbark hickory.

Named for the peeling appearance of its bark, the shagbark hickory is an excellent shade tree that also produces edible nuts for both humans and wildlife. The coral bark maple, an ornamental tree with lime green leaves in spring and bright fall colors, creates a pop of color in the winter garden with the colorful bark from whence it gets its name.

Not to be overlooked for what they offer to the year-round garden are evergreens.

There are hollies, whose berries keep birds and other wildlife fed all winter, as well as the stalwart Southern magnolia. Native to the area and beloved by many, the Southern magnolia is a hardy evergreen that is resistant to many pests and diseases while offering fragrant blooms throughout the summer months before those blooms turn into seed pods, with red seeds popping out in contrast to sturdy dark green leaves.

There are also the edible native plants that lend more than just spring blooms and fall color to your garden throughout the year, like elderberries, mulberries, serviceberries and pawpaws.

Beyond natives, there are a number of other interesting plants for the garden that offer color multiple times a year, like Josee and Boomerang lilacs or Encore azaleas, blooming in both spring and fall. Gardeners are drawn to native plants because, once adapted to the landscape, they are easy to care for, but there is an argument to be made for adding a few non-native cultivars that do well in our growing zone. Be careful to avoid plants that seem to do well but are considered invasive, like nandina.

While it’s generally easy to care for, it spreads easily by root and its berries are toxic to birds.

Gardens are an outdoor extension of our home. Creating a garden that’s attractive and appealing all year is achievable for even the most beginning gardener with a little know-how and planning. ✦ R o a n o ke Va l l e y H O M E F a l l 2 0 2 0

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