Roanoke Valley HOME Magazine Early Spring 2016

HOME R O A N O K E

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DREAMING OF

spring FRESH IDEAS, INSIDE AND OUT

HOME LIBRARIES GARDEN BENCHES STATEMENT LIGHTING

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SEED STARTING COFFEE TABLE VIGNETTES Early spring 2016, vol. 9, No. 1

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HOME R O A N O K E

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Volume 9 Issue 1 PUBLISHER

Julie Pierce EDITOR IN CHIEF

Meridith Ingram ROANOKE EDITOR

Rory Rhodes ART DIRECTOR

Trisha Roth CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

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West Willow Publishing Group, LLC (434) 386-5667 westwillowpublishing.com Copyright 2016 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.

R o a n o ke Va l l e y h o m e E a r l y S p r i n g 2 0 1 6

han

n editor ’ s note It’s about this time of year when my house and I enter a love/hate relationship. I’m grateful for a warm, pleasant place to live, but with the holiday decorations long packed away, and the season unripe for much in the way of gardening, I have become a little too familiar with the scene inside. Basically, I hate everything. It’s a situation that can be rectified only by what I call an MSA Day—“Moving Stuff Around.” I’m sure my family wants to run for the hills when I announce, on a Saturday morning: “I have an idea!” and “It will just take a few minutes!” (Translation: hours.) Rooms to be rearranged, furniture moved from one floor to another, artwork to be hung and rehung. A whole new look, without leaving home, and without spending a dime!

Whether by splurge, purge, or simply “MSA,” I think it’s a natural yearning, as we wait for the true spring to spring, to want to shake things up around the house. We hope this Early Spring issue of HOME inspires you with ideas for a few projects to help you be productive and content in your own home this time of year. Our feature on lighting fixture trends asks local experts for advice on what can be a simple, statement-making update. Our feature on home libraries examines a space you may attention to detail, dependability, and for—but maintenance, take for granted or think you don’t have room think again! We’ll have you installing bookcases in unexpected places and searching for the perfect globe and bookends for your new

library or library-like space. We also provide tips on corralling the wet and wooly gear that seems to accumulate by every home’s entry, as well as ways to organize your kitchen gadgetry like the best of the top chefs. Another quick and easy update we encourage you to try is restyling your coffee table (a key part of my own MSA Day).

If you are itching to get gardening and just can’t wait for that frost date, read all about the practice of seed starting. Our complete guide will have you growing your own herbs and veggies from seed with ease. And if you really can’t wait to get outside, try installing some fun new embellishments for your exteriors—a funky door knocker, new house numbers, a painted mailbox—to tide you over. We think we’ve given you enough to do—until next time! Thanks for reading!

—MERIDITH INGRAM, EDITOR in chief meridith@westwillowpublishing.com

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R o a n o ke Va l l e y h o m e E a r l y S p r i n g 2 0 1 6

contents Ro a n o ke Va ll ey h o m e E a r l y S p r in g 2 0 1 6

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features STATE M E N T L I G H T I N G

The newest light fixtures add brightness and glam

By C h r i st y R i p p e l

HOM E L I B R A R I E S

Create a fabulous and functional space for reading, relaxing

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By C ha r lot t e A. F. Fa r l e y

SHOW C A S E H O M E : A N I S L A N D G E TAWAY

Figure Eight Island is home away from home for this Roanoke family

By N o e l l e M i l a m

Cover photography by Tera Janelle, 2015 Design House Library designed by Beverly McCloskey Interiors

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departments 40

66

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28 DESIGN

IMPROVE

GARDEN

LIVE

28 W I N DOW DRESSING Designers offer solutions for common conundrums

40 A CHEF-WOR T H Y KITCHEN Organize and simplify your kitchen utensil cache

20 S E E D S TA R T I N G Plant now for summer bounty

50 C U L I N A RY C O R N E R Winter salads are a new comfort food

By S loan e Lu cas

By lu cy c o o k

66 SITTING PRETTY Garden benches add beauty and function

78 W R A N G LI N G WINTER’S GEAR Tips for streamlining home entryways

By R o ry R h o d es

44 E X T E RIOR E M B ELLISHMENTS Accessories, projects that add curb appeal

By Alyssa M e rcadante

74 C O F FEE TABLE S T Y L ING Fresh new looks for a familiar space

By Lau r e l F e i n man

By M itz i B i b le

47 DO YOUR CH O R E S Create your home maintenance to-do list for spring

By Cynth ia B e M e nt

By R ac h e l B ean lan d

By J e r e my An g i o n e

81 AROUND TOWN Local events in our area

70 THE WAY WE W E R E Tips for updating old design schemes

By R o ry R h o d es

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74 Special I nterest 8 2 Index of advertisers 10

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R o a n o ke Va l l e y h o m e E a r l y S p r i n g 2 0 1 6

Fe rguso n B at h , K i t c h e n a n d L i ght in g G a ll e r y

State

ment Lighting

SHINING LIGHT ON FIXTURE TRENDS

By Ch r is t y R i p p el

Lighting is a crucial element of interior design, and a good lighting plan for a room accounts for both function and beauty. Hard-working but subtle recessed lighting certainly illuminates your home for tasks, and can even highlight architectural elements or artwork, but the real eye candy often comes in the form of a light fixture that on its own is a sight to behold—a sculptural pendant, an oversized lantern or glittering chandelier. Statement light fixtures like these have big style impact while providing another layer of needed illumination; they also reflect your own unique personality and tastes. But where are some unexpected places in the home to make a lighting statement, and how can you choose something stylish that works with your decor?

To offer some new ideas for illuminating your home, Roanoke’s leading lighting experts break down the current trends and give the inside scoop about the lighting guidelines that influence their selections for clients.

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Trending Now

Industrial-inspired pendants or fixtures are still in demand and on trend, but are now offered in warmer metals, organic materials, and colored or mercury glass.

“Gold is a popular trend for lighting,” says Pamela Taylor, who manages the showroom at Williams Lighting Galleries in Roanoke. “Light fixtures that incorporate wood tones are increasingly popular ... we also see a lot of natural elements incorporated into the design such as rope, rattan—even feathers.”

Gold and brass have been options in lighting for a long time, but the warm metals that are popular now aren’t the shiny ones of the 1980s—they are burnished with an aged look. The aged look continues with fixtures meant to look like they were reclaimed—such as a fixture that looks like an old rectangular toolbox that has been flipped over and made into a light.

Amanda Schmidt, a showroom consultant at Ferguson Bath, Kitchen and Lighting Gallery in Roanoke, says industrial-style fixtures with mercury glass are popular. “We’re seeing different styles of mercury glass, like ones with gold fleck, in line with the trend toward warmer colors,” she says.

Colored glass is now in demand with homeowners (think one bold color instead of Tiffany-style glass) and organictype fixtures are finding their way onto the showroom floor, made with materials like concrete, ceramic, cardboard and handblown glass.

Architectural shapes of all kinds are on trend, and modern-looking fixtures can be softened with a vintage/Edisonstyle bulb to fit in more traditional homes.

Both Taylor and Schmidt report that the orb shape is still popular, as are fixtures with drum shades. “I think the popularity of these shapes is due to their versatility— they will work with almost any decor,” says Taylor.

LED lighting is also in demand, especially for homeowners who are eco-conscious, and Schmidt notes that Ferguson is carrying more LED fixtures and getting more inquiries from clients about how they can integrate LED in their homes.

Schmidt says that people are impressed with the flexibility LED provides. LED fixtures now dim well, which they didn’t do a couple of years ago.

Homeowners are also surprised to learn 14

R o a n o ke Va l l e y h o m e E a r l y S p r i n g 2 0 1 6

that LED filament bulbs (also referred to as antique or Edison-style) are available, as well as bulbs that are identical in color temperature to incandescent lights, offering a warm glow instead of the cool light color that many people consider the hallmark of LED. For outdoor use, LED lighting is a safe and cost-effective option because they don’t create heat and they can be left on for long periods without big energy costs.

Another little-known bonus? LED lights might cut down on the bugs. “Because LEDs don’t emit UV rays, they don’t attract bugs, which is great for a light near a door that you open often,” Schmidt explains.

You’ll pay more upfront for an LED fixture, with the idea being that you’ll recoup the cost with energy savings over a period of years. It’s a choice that is good for the planet, with today’s LED lights rated as six to seven times more efficient than conventional lighting and lasting up to 25 times longer. This is a real plus for a fixture that is not easily accessible (like hanging from a cathedral ceiling) because it practically eliminates annoying lightbulb changes.

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In areas where a fixture doesn’t hang over a table or furniture, be sure that a tall person can walk under it, and in the entry, be sure that you’ve allotted for front door clearance.

Lighting Guidelines (And When to Ignore Them)

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Many homeowners want to know what the rules are for choosing a fixture. How high should you hang it? How big should it be?

Can you mix metals?

Fortunately, there are no hard rules when it comes to lighting, but there are some guidelines that can inform your selection.

For hanging over a table, the fixture can hang as low as 30 inches above the table (measuring from the top of the table to the bottom of the fixture). It may need to be higher if the you have tall family members or guests. The kind of fixture comes into play here as well; if it is a visually heavy fixture (you can’t see through it), it may need to be slightly higher so it doesn’t feel obtrusive.

In areas where a fixture doesn’t hang over a table or furniture, be sure that a tall person can walk under it, and in the entry, be sure that you’ve allotted for front door clearance. In older homes without tall ceilings, semi-flush-mounted fixtures add interest while allowing for needed clearance.

If you like the new metals available in lighting but fear they don’t “match” current metals in your home, know that mixing and matching is okay, though including an element of repetition in the space will help it look intentional. For instance, if you add R o a n o ke Va l l e y h o m e E a r l y S p r i n g 2 0 1 6

a new burnished brass fixture in your foyer, add a mirror with a burnished brass frame in the same space—and you’ve just borrowed a trick from an interior designer’s handbook.

The size of your fixture is ultimately personal preference; you want something that fills the space without overwhelming it. A general formula for chandelier or pendant selection in a dining room is that chandeliers should have a diameter of one-half to two-thirds the width of the table. To size a fixture as the focal point of any other space, like a living room or foyer, measure the length and width of the room (to the nearest foot) and add those figures together. The sum of those two numbers is the approximate recommended diameter of your chandelier or pendant (in inches).

A final note on size: Taylor thinks it’s better to go bigger rather than smaller. “‘Too big’ can be interpreted as making a statement,” she says. “If the fixture is too small it tends to get lost and can look like an afterthought.”

One guideline not to ignore: though it’s on trend to hang a chandelier in a bathroom, make sure it is hung properly. For safety, you shouldn’t be able to touch the fixture if you are standing in the tub (or shower). Electricians can advise on codes if you are renovating a bathroom or have chosen a new fixture for your current bath.

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SPECTRUM STONE DESIGNS 434.993.0888 | spectrumstonedesigns.com Unexpected Lighting Statements

The dining room chandelier has been around as long as the dining room. Even in this traditional space, you can bend tradition to come up with something unique. Consider multiple chandeliers instead of a single, especially for a long table; think about hanging several miniature pedants at different heights, clustered together, for an artistic statement that no one else on the block will have.

The popularity of pendants in the kitchen has soared with the popularity of the open floor plan, in part because they are excellent for creating zones and division in a large, open spaces while also lending style and interest to the room. When you are choosing pendants for a kitchen island, know whether the island is for prep only, or includes seating. That can influence the fixture height (if the island functions as a table, the 30-inch general guideline applies). Consider if you want the pendants to create division in the room, or if they should hang higher to prevent it.

Miniature pendants and chandeliers are making appearances in walk-in closets, powder rooms and even laundry rooms. In a space like the laundry, it can be an unexpected shot of glamour to greet an otherwise unglamorous task.

Trends in lighting placement include chandeliers over coffee tables and in other living spaces, and in bedrooms. If these ideas pique your interest, there a few factors to consider in making a choice. In the living room, you have two lines of sight—from the doorway standing up, and sitting on furniture. Consider both sight lines to determine if a chandelier or fixture would obstruct views of art, an interesting outdoor view, or the television.

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In the bedroom, chandeliers and pedants can be a great choice; a recent trend is two small hanging chandeliers on either side of the bed in place of other bedside lighting. Another trend is a chandelier hanging from the bedroom ceiling. If you are trying out this trend, make sure that you can sit comfortably on the bed with the fixture hanging, and can make the bed without bumping into it.

Don’t overlook a dimmer switch, which is an excellent choice for all lighting fixtures because it gives you maximum flexibility and control.

Visiting the Lighting Store

Browse online before visiting a lighting store to have a sense of likes and dislikes as a starting point. If you are upfront about your price range, a lighting specialist can quickly assist you in narrowing down the best budget options. Bringing in photos of the room, as well as measurements, can be helpful in choosing fixtures of appropriate scale and style. Some lighting stores will do a consultation at your home for a nominal fee and make custom recommendations without obligation to buy, which is particularly helpful if you are overwhelmed by a renovation or building project.

The good news? Trends and guidelines exist as a reference, but our lighting consultants say you should go with what you love. Go with your instinct, and, if necessary, have an expert help you work it into a space in your home.

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n GARDEN SEED STARTING

Grown from Seed Don’t settle for garden-variety plants

By S loa n e Lu c a s P h ot o g r a p hy by S l o a n e Lu c a s 2 0

R o a n o ke Va l l e y h o m e E a r l y S p r i n g 2 0 1 6

Imagine it’s late July. You are hosting a dinner party. Your guests enjoy a

Getting Started

colorful salad of red, yellow and orange heirloom tomatoes, grilled chicken

Begin your seed starting at local gardening stores—usually the easiest and least expensive option to acquire your assortment. While local garden shops may have a limited selection of plants in April, they are likely to have a wider variety of seeds in February and March. Give yourself some time to really enjoy perusing the packets, checking out all the varieties available, and mixing and matching to create your ideal future garden.

You should also ask the salespeople for ideas and recommendations. Many times they are just as passionate about gardening as their customers, especially at smaller neighborhood stores, so be sure to engage them in conversation and take advantage of their knowledge. (Of course, if you’ve read about a certain variety and you can’t find it in stores, you can always go online to find it.)

Often everything you need to know about growing a given plant from seed is right on the packet—including a suggested timeframe for when to start seeds indoors, how long they will take to germinate, and even how long you can expect to wait from transplant outside to harvest. And just like the plastic information tags that come with purchased plants, seed packets should tell you how far apart to plant seedlings, what kind of sunlight is required, and more.

smothered in a fresh tri-basil pesto, and roasted home-grown Japanese eggplant, garnished with a unique variety of flavorful parsley.

The promise of moments like these inspires gardeners to begin plotting during the chilly winter months. They know certain heirloom vegetables and beyond-the-basic basils might not be available at their local supermarket or farmer’s market, and that hunting them down in specialty stores will be costly.

If you want to ensure an imaginative selection of delicious vegetables and herbs for your garden this summer, and maybe learn something new while you’re at it, simply up your garden game a little and start your own plants from seeds. Don’t be daunted! Seed starting is easy, inexpensive and fun.

Why Start from Seed?

First and foremost, starting from seed lets you select from the widest choice of varieties.

Brick-and-mortar garden stores tend to stock basic seedlings, and while catalogues and websites can offer a broader range of plants via mail delivery, choices are still limited.

Another benefit is cost. Even the most exotic seeds are only a few dollars a packet, allowing you to grow multiple plants, each of which would cost significantly more via mail order, especially when you factor in shipping costs.

Many gardeners turn to seed starting simply because it’s fun. While winter winds blow outside, stir-crazy gardeners have an excuse to visit their favorite garden store and peruse racks of colorful seed packets. Itchy green thumbs can get started gardening indoors months before spring, biding their time until they can really get outside and play in the dirt.

Seed starting is also a wonderful way to inspire future gardeners. If you involve children in the process, they not only have fun learning, they can also enjoy picking and eating foods they grew from scratch.

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Following the start dates listed on the packet will help your seed-starting project go more smoothly. Seeds started too early may grow spindly and require an interim transplant to larger containers—not a huge hurdle, but if you can time it right, you can avoid that extra step. On the flip side, seeds started too late might be too small to set out by your frost date, which, for very eager gardeners, means wasting precious growing time while seedlings mature.

Packets should tell you clearly when to start seeds indoors.

For example, some varieties of Thai peppers take about eight weeks to grow from seed to seedling, while tomato plants may be ready in six weeks, and basil as early as four weeks. Try to stagger seed starting so that all your seedlings are ready for planting at the same time.

Planting time will be governed by the anticipated last frost date of the season, a date determined by historic weather patterns for your zone. Some seed packets feature little maps that clearly tell you when to plant for your area. Our area falls into Zone 7a, where the last frost date usually falls between April 15 and April 30. Mark your calendars to plant your seedlings in that timeframe, then work backward from that when starting your seeds.

How Your Seedlings Grow

It’s easiest to purchase an inexpensive seed-starting kit, which usually includes a plastic tray with a clear lid—like a little greenhouse—and small disks of compressed soil, peat or coir (coconut husk fiber) that you soak in water to hydrate and expand into small, self-contained pouches. Trays and lids can also be cleaned and reused, so they are a simple investment for future seed starting.

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Seeds need a clean, light medium that promotes air circulation and allows roots to grow, but with enough heft to hold some (but not too much) moisture.

You can also use yogurt, applesauce, or diced fruit cups. Just be sure to wash them well and poke holes for drainage. You can fill these with “germinating mix” or “seed-starting mix” that you can buy at your local garden store—special lightweight mediums usually sold in small bags. As a secondary (and economical) option, if you have some lightweight container potting mix still dry in the bag from last season, use that. Just don’t use garden soil, which is too heavy and might harbor disease or pests. Seeds need a clean, light medium that promotes air circulation and allows roots to grow, but with enough heft to hold some (but not too much) moisture.

Fill your containers with moistened soil, or place the hydrated pouches in their tray, then sprinkle a few seeds of one plant in each. Mix the seeds in so they are lightly covered. Put plastic wrap over the containers or put the lid on your seed-starting tray to keep moisture in.

If you use a tray system, label a front and back, and make a map of what you planted where. If you are using containers, label with a permanent marker.

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Seedlings will lean toward any light, so rotate them on a regular basis to promote straight growth, and try to keep plants at room temperature, between 60 and 70 degrees.

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To promote germination, place in a location that’s warm, but not too hot, such as a sunny window or near a laundry dryer that generates gentle heat. Check periodically on your seeds and refer to the packet to check their germination time. If seeds from a certain plant don’t germinate in the right timeframe, add a few more seeds into the medium and start over.

After seeds germinate, when sprouts are about a half-inch high, they will need at least 14 to 16 hours of direct light, or they may become thin and scrawny. A south-facing window that lets in a lot of sunshine is ideal. Further enhance natural sunlight by covering cardboard with foil and putting it behind the seedlings.

If you don’t have a sun-drenched spot, create a simple growing area by using desk lamps fitted with grow bulbs, which you can purchase at local garden, hardware or home improvement stores. Lights should be about four inches away from the seedlings—near enough to offer direct light, but not too close to scorch leaves. As plants grow, they should be moved to low tables, with the lamps angled down from higher tables.

Adjust distance if you see the edges of the leaves curling, an indication that they are being singed.

Seedlings will lean toward any light, so rotate them on a regular basis to promote straight growth, and try to keep plants at room temperature, between 60 and 70 degrees. If using grow lights, turn them off at night, since seedlings need a period of darkness each day.

R o a n o ke Va l l e y h o m e E a r l y S p r i n g 2 0 1 6

Seedlings should be kept moist, but not drenched. Try to water from the bottom to prevent fungus from killing—or “damping off”—sprouts. Water placed in a seed-starting tray will wick up through the hydrated pouches. Keep containers in a pan with water to be absorbed through the drainage holes. If the growing medium still looks too dry, and seedlings start to wilt, water gently at the base of the seedling.

You will need to “harden off” your seedlings so they acclimate to the outside before you commit them to the garden. About a week before you want to plant, place seedlings outside for a few hours during the day—first in shaded areas, then in sunnier spots. Bring them in at night until the last few days, then leave them out for a few trial evenings.

If these steps seem complicated, they really aren’t. Seed starting is a fun, easy and economical hobby that provides a truly varied harvest. It involves very little effort and money, and the results will amaze you. When spring arrives, you will enjoy a unique sense of pride and accomplishment when you plant seedlings that you’ve nurtured from seed. Then, it’s just a matter of time before you can really savor and share the fruits of your labor.

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Uplifting before

Remodel THE EDMONSTON PROJECT

before

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before

R

emodeling the Edmonston home in Moneta was a comprehensive project involving two phases. The first phase primarily involved remodeling exterior spaces in both the front and the rear of the home. “We added everything you see here in these photos of the rear of the house,” says Jeremy Smith, residential division manager for F&S. This includes a new conditioned sunroom, and two porches with Trex decking and rails. They also created a spectacular space on the lower level below

the decking, featuring a spiral staircase and stamped concrete.

The front of the home was given a facelift with added stone and stamped concrete, a new front door and a new shingled roof.

“The entire house was also painted/stained.

We managed the whole project,” explains Smith. All told, this project took about 10 weeks to complete.

The Edmonstons then hired F&S to complete more work on their interiors in the second stage, which was completed in about 6 weeks. This project included installing new kitchen appliances, countertops and a backsplash as well as four bathroom remodels.

Happy clients do indeed make the best referrals—often in the form of repeat business. “The Edmonstons shared with us that we did such an outstanding job on the first project that they had us come back for the second. We must have done a good job!” says Smith.

before

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n DESIGN WINDOW DRESSING

D E C O R AT I N G

DIffICULT W I N D O W S

By R o ry R h o d es

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P h ot o gr a p hy by Te r a Ja n e ll e

Ac c e nt s o n W in d ows

Ac c e nt s o n W in d ows

Windows are an essential component of any home. They let in sunshine and scenery, reflect the home’s architectural style, and are important considerations for heating and cooling. Window treatments are used to address the practical considerations of light, privacy, and temperature control, as well as aesthetic preferences in home decor. With certain types of windows, balancing these needs can be tricky. Here, local experts offer advice for dealing with some common window conundrums.

Bay Windows

With bay windows, there are really two types to talk about: bay windows, and bay walls. A traditional bay window extends out from a flat wall, and features a substantial sill. With a bay wall, the walls themselves form the bay shape. Bay walls are more common in new construction, and are easier to dress because each window is generally flanked by a bit of wall, which makes mounting hardware easier. Elaine Stephenson, of Elaine Stephenson Interiors, likes woven wood blinds mounted individually in each window. “They give warmth and texture to the windows,” she says. Adding stationary drapery panels on each side will “frame the windows and add additional color and texture.”

For a classic bay window with a sill, you’re more likely to need professional assistance if dressing each window segment separately. Kathy Spark, of Accents on Windows, brings samples of shades and blinds to clients’ homes to make certain the corners won’t bump into one another. For a custom fit, “You want the least amount of white space as possible between sections,” she says. Spark says her most popular requests for bay windows are Roman shades, sometimes with fabric drapes on the outside. She also does a lot of cornice boards. r vhomemaga zine .com

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Large Bathroom Windows

For a large window over a garden tub, privacy is usually the main concern. Kristin Kopcial, of Decorating Den, says this is easily handled with a top-down shade, which can be adjusted at both the top and bottom. “It will keep your privacy while still letting in natural light,” she says. Spark says top-down shades come in a variety of materials, including woven wood, and can be easily set to café style. Café style is also a great choice for shutters. For a café feel, Stephenson says you can install a plantation shutter with a divide bar, so that “the bottom can remain closed for privacy and the top can be opened to let in light.” Spark says another option is a café shutter treatment where only the bottom portion is installed. The top half of the window can either be left open, or dressed with fabric.

If the window is difficult to reach, Spark suggests, “You can do a motorization shade, or motorized wood blinds with slats that tilt.” Stephenson says a simple valance can soften a motorized shade if desired.

Front Door Sidelights

An entry door with sidelights adds light and curb appeal to many homes, yet privacy here is also a consideration. Stained glass was once a popular option to filter the view, but these days it is more commonly addressed with window treatments. Stephenson suggests a sheer treatment—either a fabric or a woven wood.

“Grass cloth looks pretty,” she notes. For a tailored look, Spark has outfitted sidelights with shutters, as well as Roman shades, which she says can be made with a heavy sheer fabric, to allow light to filter through.

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Skylights

While privacy is rarely an issue for skylights, light and temperature control definitely can be. Kopcial says that motorized shades are handy for solving this problem, allowing light to be adjusted during different times and seasons as needed. She says, “With motorization, you can even dress a skylight window with coordinating shades” to match other window treatments. Some skylight shades can also be operated by long poles, but either way, Spark says that professional installers are required to make templates and properly mount this kind of treatment. For a less expensive option, it is sometimes possible to place a tension rod at either end of the skylight and use sheers. The fabric will likely have to be altered by a seamstress, and the treatment can be removed during winter if more light is needed. r vhomemaga zine .com

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The Palladian window, a central arched window flanked with two rectangular windows, is a classical feature from Renaissance architecture that remains popular today. We’re not sure what Andrea Palladio used for drapes when he designed it in 16thcentury Italy, but today the main dilemma is what to do with the arch. Draping the curve itself is extremely tricky, and liable to look dated, so it should be considered only if excess light is a problem. Spark says she just helped a client with a large foyer.

“There was so much sun that it was causing heating and cooling issues, so we did a custom shutter,” she says. She suggests this as an alternative to fabric, noting that it highlights the architecture of the window.

An attractive alternative is to install drapes above the arch.

Spark says this look adds “height and drama” to the room, and that the drapery can be operable for light and temperature control, or simply dressing to warm up the space. Stephenson says that if a client prefers to place a treatment across the main portion of the window (below the arch) for light and privacy control, she will suggest either an adjustable woven wood shade, drapery panels, or a combination of the two. If you’re buying ready-made drapes, this may also be your best bet in terms of achieving the proper length.

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Transom Windows

Typically smaller windows placed above doors or other windows, transoms can be purely decorative, or functional, allowing air flow and heat dissipation in homes built before the advent of air conditioning. Generally, this extra light is considered desirable, but if it’s causing a problem, such as sunfading on art and fabrics, there are several options. As with Palladian windows, placing fabric treatments above the transom will unify and elongate the room but will likely require a custom length.

Transoms are often found above a door, generally along with sidelights. Sparks suggests using the same treatment on both the transom and the sidelights for a unified look. “I like to do shutters on transoms,” she says. “I’ve done Roman shades, Silhouettes by Hunter Douglas— any type of shade that can raise or lower—and I’ll try to coordinate it with whatever I’m doing down below.”

No matter what type of window you’re looking to dress, knowing your budget, along with your functional and aesthetic preferences, is key. Once you have these considerations in hand, a window professional can help you select a treatment that will both insulate and beautify your home.

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A ROOM OF ONE’S OWN

Creating a home library

By Ch a r lot t e A . F. Fa r l e y

W

ith the popularity of e-readers, it might seem curious that more and more homeowners are showing an interest in creating their own home libraries. Where is this interest coming from? While many passionate readers believe that nothing will ever truly replace the

experience of a real page-turner, a home library offers more than just a place to store your hardcovers

and paperbacks: it offers us a place to experience peace in our busy lives. Most of all, a personal library serves as a visual display of afternoons you’ve spent reading, knowledge you’ve obtained, and the development of your interests.

Right about now, you might be thinking, “What a nice idea, but I don’t have any room for a home library!” Well think again. Whether you are creating a wall of bookcases, carving out a corner, or dedicating an entire room to your library, there is a place for a library in every home, no matter the size.

What you intend to gain from your home library will inform all of your decisions, from where you choose to house the collection right down to your seating. Ideally, the area should invite you to escape from the chaos of day and retreat into your own thoughts (or the author’s thoughts, as the case may be). If possible, choose a space or room that isn’t already the center of action in your home, like a formal living room that doesn’t see very much in the way of day-to-day living, a guest room, or even a large landing at the top of the stairs. You might want to section off part of a room and dedicate that space to the library, or redesign your home office to double as your book room. Consider any nook that welcomes space for your collection: under the stairs, beside the fireplace, the end of a hallway, large blank walls.

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R o a n o ke Va l l e y h o m e E a r l y S p r i n g 2 0 1 6

I cannot live without books. — Thomas Jefferson

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P h ot o gr a p hy by Te r a Ja3 5n e ll e

Elements of an Inviting Library

After you determine a location, you’ll need some kind of shelving system for all of your books. Before you rush to hire a contractor to build a custom, floorto-ceiling shelving unit for you, assess your book collection. Good organization always begins with assembling all of your items, recognizing their purpose, and determining if their purpose still aligns with yours. How does this apply to books? Well, if you still own your college algebra book “just because,” or if you were required to read The Grapes of Wrath a few times but never liked Steinbeck, donate or sell those items. A few guidelines to help you decide what to keep: titles that hold meaning for you, books that you hope to read on a rainy Saturday afternoon, those that bring you great joy just by catching sight them, and those that you regularly reference.

After you sort through the stacks, you’ll be able to make the best choice for your shelving system. You might need to use the full height of the wall, or you could use floating shelves in a corner nook to utilize the full height of the space to create a library; it can 36

climb all the way up to the ceiling if you wish. By the same token, if you are interested in space-saving solutions, you can purchase a circular bookcase that revolves, or add shelving or built-ins at the dead-end of a hallway or along the path of a wide hallway. In general, tall narrow bookcases are great for holding large collections without commanding a large amount of floor space. Whatever you choose to do, make sure your system is securely positioned. (If you are interested in putting together a library for your children’s book collections, consider tall, narrow shelves—anchored to the wall, of course, for safety. It is much easier for children to replace books properly on a narrow shelf where they won’t fall over.)

Remember that you’ll need a spot to hunker down with a good read and a drink. Based on your space, consider how much room you have for any chairs, sofas, tables or lamps. Will you need a place to write—and do you have space for a desk? A traditional desk is fine, as is an old dining table that you might repurpose as a library desk; alternately, a lap desk might suit your space and needs more appropriately.

Make sure the space will have plenty of light. Windows are terrific for a view to the outdoors as well as natural light, but you also need a bright lamp that casts its light over your shoulders to minimize glare.

Organizing Your Home Library

When it comes to home libraries, there are more ways to organize your collection than by the Dewey Decimal system.

Alphabetizing by author last name is an easy way to locate your books. If you like the idea of sorting alphabetically, but you’re not good with names, place your books in alphabetical order by title.

You could always take a riff on the Dewey Decimal idea and store your books by subject matter (and then alphabetize author last names or book titles within the subject if you like to be super organized).

You’ll find many designers suggesting a color-coded library. While that may be aesthetically pleasing and makes a visual impact on your shelves, it’s not always the best way to organize information, unless you happen to remember that your personal copy of To Kill A Mockingbird is R o a n o ke Va l l e y h o m e E a r l y S p r i n g 2 0 1 6

lavender and can easily find the novel among the other purple books.

Another option: divide the shelves into “read” and “unread” sections: dedicate a shelf (or entire bookcase) to books you’ve already read cover to cover, another to books you haven’t finished completely, and one more to the books that remain unread. In a similar way, you could just separate your fiction from your non-fiction.

Chronology is another fun, clever way to use your library to display your life in books. It might feature Dr. Seuss on the top shelf, The Crucible a few shelves beneath that, and then books on parenting, spirituality, or biographies.

Another important consideration: room for more books! Take a page from children’s author Julia Donaldson, who writes in Room on the Broom about a witch and a cat who encounter different creatures while traveling. The witch always finds a proper perch for these new friends who join her along the way. In the same spirit, be sure to leave some room on the shelves for new members of your library.

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Your display of books reveals much about your tastes and interests; likewise, showcasing artwork and personal items amid the books on your shelf develops the overall aesthetic while reflecting more of your own story. Still, how you style your bookshelves has much to do with the size of your actual library.

If you own a massive collection, multiple vertical lines of books make for an impressive display, and you just might not have space leftover for picture frames and objects of interest (just keep the Room on the Broom space for new books that enter your home).

Whether you’ve held onto every book you’ve ever read or whether you keep a small collection of personal favorites at arm’s reach, it’s likely you’ll have some visual space behind the books.

Use that to your design advantage, painting or wallpapering the backs of the shelves to add a pop of color into the room. Rotate the placement of books so that some are stacked vertically while others are stacked horizontally to add even more space for displaying favorite photographs, souvenirs or family heirlooms.

Your library should be a place for you to relax, to ponder, and to enjoy. Paint the room a color that’s pleasing to you, and surround yourself with artwork that you find meaningful and beautiful. For you, that might mean colorful landscapes, and for others, it might mean a series of old family pictures. If you’re looking for alternatives to artwork, consider framing and hanging old maps, sheet music, or book jackets from favorite children’s books. Add a cozy throw blanket or two and a soft rug under your seating area and you’re just one rainy afternoon and a cup of chai away from thoroughly enjoying your new home library.

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Charming, Functional Accessories for Home Libraries

Home libraries don’t have to be silent, and they definitely don’t have to be stuffy.

Just having a space dedicated to a home library speaks to a sense of adventure; after all, if you’re a book lover, you love to delve into other worlds that books can offer.

Though you may find these items in a public library, they’re interesting, unexpected touches for your home library. n If you’ve stored your books high above your reach, a rolling library ladder will provide the right perch for you to pull a title off the shelf. n A bookstand not only works as a display for your favorite heavy-duty tome, but it promotes better posture while reading and makes a great conversation piece. n A library book rack or cart can be a great mobile mini-library in itself, or it can hold books that you use so frequently that they might never find their way to the actual bookshelf. n Create custom bookplates or a custom embosser for all of your books, especially those you might lend out to friends but hope to keep as part of your permanent collection. n Keep an eye out for vintage card catalogs; use the drawers for storing smaller items or as an actual filing cabinet. n Don’t forget to invest in bookends! They’ll keep your books in place while adding visual interest to your shelves.

“

n Vintage magazine racks are great for holding current issues and keeping the stack in check. n No library seems complete without a beautiful globe.

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n IMPROVE KITCHEN ORGANIZATION

GADGETS

GALORE Get a Grip on Your Cooking Utensils to Make Your Kitchen More Efficient

BY MITZI B I B LE

Don’t you love watching those cooking shows where the chef is ready to mix his ingredients and a whisk appears out of thin air, and a split second later he reaches for a barrage of spoons and spatulas, all magically within his reach?

We know this is not a realistic scenario (the items are obviously set out ahead of time, not to mention that he has an entire crew at his disposal to hand him anything he needs)—but there is some truth to be learned here. When your everyday utensils are well organized and can be located quickly, you can greatly reduce your prep time and keep your kitchen tidy.

If a more realistic scenario for you is yanking open an overcrowded drawer (which may require some force if that ladle didn’t get put away properly) and then placing several items on the counter just so you can hunt down the meat thermometer that somehow made its way to the very back, here are some ideas to bring order to your kitchen tools.

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R o a n o ke Va l l e y h o m e E a r l y S p r i n g 2 0 1 6

Pull It Together

It’s In There Somewhere …

Professional organizers will advise us to group items in “activity zones.” If counter space allows, a basket by your coffeemaker could hold filters, grounds, a scoop, and your favorite mug.

Likewise, your cutting boards could stand beside your knife block. It is best to start with identifying what items are used in your everyday activities and designate a handy place for them.

Once you’ve separated your most frequently used items and have put them in their appropriate zones, it is time to take inventory of your entire gadget cache. Sometimes the only way to do this is to dump it all in one place so you can see what has accumulated over time; you might be surprised at your tally.

Kitchen gadgets are fairly inexpensive, and it’s easy to buy a few at once and equally as easy to forget to toss the old ones away.

Years of doing this can certainly add up.

Start by separating the items that you use at least once a week and put them all in one place, preferably in the drawers closest to your oven. If you have items that you use occasionally, such as a cake server or juicer, store them in drawers farther away or in a container of their own inside a pantry or a cabinet. Of course this process completely depends on your cooking habits—and your eating habits. (No judgment here, but if that ice cream scoop is a favorite accomplice, by all means give it a proper place!)

Start a discard pile for items you have not used in over a year.

If some are nearing the end of their life, are melted, burned or rusted, then discard. Freeing up the space you use every day will free you up to be able to find your gadgets quickly.

Kitchen drawers can be like a black hole, sucking in our smaller gadgets to never be seen again. We all had great intentions when we moved into our homes, selecting a place for each item, perhaps using one side of the drawer for spatulas, another for the salad tongs. But when you add in the nutcracker, pizza cutter, and handheld can opener, and it can get messy quickly.

When you’re ready to place the items in the drawers, consider one of the many drawer organizer kits available in stores or online. The newest products are adjustable, such as Rev-A-Shelf, which includes a series of wood dividers and clips (imagine a miniature bookshelf on its side), and DrawerDecor, which features “divitz” (tiny blocks) that you can position on a silicone mat in any combination along a series of grooves, creating a notch to place your gadget and lock it in place. Both basic kits retail for about $30 per drawer.

For a less expensive option, traditional plastic flatware trays work well for other items. (That short meat thermometer rests easily in the smaller section, by the way). You can also purchase individual small plastic containers and line them with your favorite scrapbook paper design. Be sure to line the drawer first with grip liner so the containers don’t move around when you open and close the drawer.

If you have maxed out your drawer space, think about pulling out your longest and bulkiest tools, such as that ladle or whisk or potato masher, and placing them in a decorative container on the counter. For a clean look, consider placing all of your wooden utensils in one container.

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If you don’t use a knife block, or have too many knives for one, a strip is one of the safest ways to store them. They keep knives out of reach of children and keep adults from risking a cut when rummaging through a utensil drawer.

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Up and Out of the Way

If you’ve taken an inventory and still require more space, there are other solutions. Magnetized strips are becoming very popular. Mostly used for knives, these strips of aluminum or heavy duty stainless steel (the more expensive option) can be adhered to the backsplash or under the top cabinets and hold the blades. They come in different lengths. Some come in a wood look and can also have hooks for those utensils that can easily be hung from holes in their handles. If you don’t use a knife block, or have too many knives for one, a strip is one of the safest ways to store them. They keep knives out of reach of children and keep adults from risking a cut when rummaging through a utensil drawer.

Some creative storage solutions include a picture frame filled with chicken wire and small hooks, or taking a tip from your dad’s workshop and using a pegboard. You can even install small shelves under the top cabinets and place decorative baskets there to hold certain utensils, or you can install pull-out drawers. A basket hanger on a nearby wall or even the back of a pantry door could be a practical solution.

At a time when families are busier than ever and just having the time to cook is a luxury, take a cue from those TV chefs and keep those gadgets close at hand so you can prepare a meal quickly and become the star in your own kitchen.

R o a n o ke Va l l e y h o m e E a r l y S p r i n g 2 0 1 6

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n DESIGN CURB APPEAL

Exterior Embellishments Little Touches Make Big Impact on Curb Appeal

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R o a n o ke Va l l e y h o m e E a r l y S p r i n g 2 0 1 6

By A lyss a M erc a da n t e

There is no better time than now to think about updating the exterior of your home. A small facelift is just what your abode needs to feel rejuvenated after a long winter. And while the idea of an outdoor makeover may seem daunting, a little bit goes a long way when it comes to boosting curb appeal and adding some oomph to your home’s outward appearance. These easy outdoor project ideas can each be completed in as little as one weekend— even one day—and can likely be done yourself.

A Splash of Color

If you feel up to a little bit of painting, a revived front door—the focal point of curb appeal—could be the ticket to instantly updating your home. Choose a not-so-neutral color to make your entryway really pop. Bold aquas and greens look great against a tan or brown house while bright red stands out on a gray or white house. Don’t be afraid to experiment here since bright and bold doors are all the rage, are an inexpensive update, and can easily be repainted. All you need is the paint color of your choice, a flat brush, and a painter’s tray and tape. Try transitioning this exterior update to the inside of your home by painting the other side of the door as well. On the other hand, you can reflect your home’s interior on the outside by adding a decorative wreath or oversized monogram that reflects your personal taste and style.

Cool Metals, Neat Numbers

Updating your house numbers, door knobs and door knockers are small but effective ways to give your exterior a stylish look. There are so many DIY projects out there for modernizing your house number. Think big, fancy fonts in stainless steel or aluminum affixed to the face of the house, or a display of various potted plants arranged on the front porch with numbers painted on the sides. If you have the space, add a cute bench out front with a bright and colorful pillow featuring your house number in a bold applique to really make a statement. Get rid of those old, shiny brass door knobs and replace with bronze or another favorite metal. If you don’t like the idea of buying and r vhomemaga zine .com

replacing your door hardware, try using a metal spray paint to quickly update the look and feel of your knobs and hinges.

If you are looking for something more unique, be sure to scour local antique shops. Adding an old, interesting door knob or door knocker with intricate details and designs to your front door can really give your house the perfect dash of character.

Simple Lighting

Properly illuminating your home’s wonderful features is key to curb appeal.

And this doesn’t have to be an expensive or time-consuming project. Install solar lighting along your sidewalk leading up to your house to make a large impact with little effort, making your home feel warm and inviting instantly. Solar lighting does not require any wiring and can be purchased at any home improvement store. If you’re up for spending a little more, add a large overhead chandelier- or lantern-like light fixture to your front porch to accent your house and create a warm, welcoming entryway. (Consider calling in the electrician on this one if you have no electrical experience.) If you have porch lights on either side of the front door, consider updating them as well so they match the door’s hardware.

Symmetry and fluidity are important factors to consider when it comes to creating curb appeal, as pieces that flow together are pleasing to the eye.

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Paint the wooden post on your mailbox to match or complement your home’s exterior color. Add your house numbers down the post in a contrasting color, making sure they are clearly visible. Surround your mailbox with a beautiful flowering garden or a small, simple bed of rocks with hardy ferns.

Mailbox Makeover

Your mailbox may be one of your least worries, but it’s likely one of the first things people see when they arrive at your home. Let it set the tone and complement your home while expressing your personality. Try using indoor/outdoor spray paint for a metal mailbox. Two coats should do it and will dry in less than an hour. Think about choosing a fun, bright color for the box—such as a turquoise-blue with a shiny red flag—and white with large black house numbers for the post. If you have more conservative tastes, paint your mailbox black or white for a more classic look. Paint the wooden post or pole to match or complement your home’s exterior color. Add your house numbers down the post in a contrasting color, making sure they are clearly visible.

Surround your mailbox with a beautiful flowering garden or a small, simple bed of rocks with hardy ferns.

Each of these done-in-a-day projects allow you to express yourself and add instant pizzazz to your home. To complete your home’s fresh, new look, be sure to manicure your lawn, tend to any shrubs and bushes, wash dirt off of sidewalks and driveways, and wipe down the windows to make your home sparkle and shine.

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n IMPROVE HOME MAINTENANCE

INSIDE CHORES Climate Control

CHORE CHECKLIST

Maintenance to-do lists keep your home running smoothly

By J er em y An g i o n e

As spring approaches to signal the end of another temperamental Virginia winter, homeowners are wise to make a list of house chores to accomplish before even thinking about good old-fashioned spring cleaning. Winter can cause several of your home’s key systems to experience an accelerated degree of wear. Inside and out, from air ducts to sidewalks, here are a few maintenance essentials to consider addressing before spring awakens. r vhomemaga zine .com

The battle against an intense winter is often fought on two fronts. On one hand, keeping your home warm and dry is crucial. On the other, a sole focus on heating your home can lead to a dry environment. That’s where humidifiers come in, working with your home’s heating system to create a balanced atmosphere that is warm but not too dry.

It is important to schedule a cleaning with local HVAC specialists for your humidifier, as it will need attention after a stretch of heavy usage. You can also clean your humidifier yourself if you are feeling resourceful—no tech savvy required. Make sure to have your humidifier manual handy, as well as some warm water and white vinegar or bleach. Stagnant water and the dirty filter of an ill-maintained humidifier can contribute to mold growth or foster airborne allergens, so seasonal cleaning is important.

While no one likes to think about it, mold is a factor that should always be on the radar. After a harsh winter, with your humidifier working overtime, you may find that excess moisture in the air can cause mold growth in particularly humid areas of your home. You’ll want to check those dark areas where moisture can be trapped, such as attics, basements and even pantry spaces. As spring approaches, consider having a professional check those hard-to-see areas or test areas that may have seemed innocuous.

Though you won’t need it for awhile, your cooling system will need some attention too. As always, make sure filters are regularly changed and cleaned, and ducts are cleaned as well. Schedule your air conditioning annual maintenance now for a time when the cold tapers off, before that first heat wave that catches many Virginians by surprise.

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Freshly cleaned hardwood, carpet or tile is immediately noticeable and adds a brightness to your home that is appropriate for spring.

Firepl aces and Chimneys

If you have kept your home warm the old-fashioned way, you’ll need to make sure your chimney and fireplace are clean. An improperly maintained fireplace or chimney can be dangerous and even cause an unintended fire. Enlist a chimney sweeping service after a season of continual use.

Indoor Plum bing

A particularly cold winter can prove to be too much for your indoor plumbing. It is important to routinely check any water pipes for cracks, leaks and any freezing which can cause pipes to burst. Keeping an eye on your pipes is an important habit to develop, but if you don’t know what to look for or if you notice actual damage, be sure to contact a professional plumber.

Smoke Detectors

As the end of Daylight Savings Time approaches, let it serve as a reminder to check all the smoke detectors in your home. They need to be dusted periodically for optimum performance, and their batteries need to be tested. Replace faulty detectors and change the batteries while you’re at it.

Floors and More

After a winter with even the slightest snowfall, snowy or muddy boots (or paws) will undoubtedly reach your floors. Cleaning a hardwood floor can be simple enough with standard floor cleaner, but you may need some extra help. Book an appointment with a cleaning company that specializes in flooring of all types to meet the various needs of your home. Freshly cleaned hardwood, carpet or tile is immediately noticeable and adds a brightness to your home that is appropriate for spring.

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OUTSIDE CHORES Gutters

Gutters can take a beating during the autumn and winter months, making regular maintenance important. In spring, your garden may be colorful and bright, your home spotless and the windows washed, but clogged or leaky gutters can turn into an eyesore that overshadows your other spring spruceups—not to mention paves the way for damage to your roof, home and yard.

Be sure to schedule a gutter inspection and cleaning sooner rather than later, as appointments will be booked quickly by diligent homeowners.

Outdoor Plum bing

While you may have taken all the precautions to protect the plumbing inside your home from the cold, you may have forgotten a few important parts of outdoor plumbing. As a general rule, make sure faucet valves are shut off fully and water is completely drained from hoses and faucets to avoid freezing. If there is damage to an outdoor faucet, your best option is to replace it.

Porches and Paths

Not only can the snow and mud of winter damage the exterior of our homes, but so can our efforts to manage them. Safety-conscious homeowners may cast salt on walkways or steps where ice might collect—but unfortunately, excessive salt can cause your walkway or porch to become dry and cracked.

Be sure to sweep and remove excess salt, making sure not to sweep it onto your lawn or garden, which could damage the soil. Wash down any areas where the salt was used. While one winter’s worth of salt may not create extensive damage, consistent use year after year can indeed damage walkways, porches and steps.

Giving these hot spots your attention now will help keep your home’s systems in good repair, paving the way for a stress-free spring at home.

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n LIVE CULINARY CORNER

Winter Salads Roasted and toasted redefines comfort food

By Lu cy Co o k

Thankfully the longest, darkest days of winter are behind us, but we’re still hunkered down and waiting for spring. Sometimes it’s still a little dark and dreary, so we may feel like indulging in heavy comfort foods, potentially putting on an extra few pounds. Some of us are holding our ground with our New Year’s resolutions, some have already fallen off the wagon … and then there are those of us who are still considering starting!

I’m trying to change my thinking about comfort foods. It’s not all about meat and melted cheese anymore. Comfort food is about good roasted, toasted smells, lots of textures and flavors, and feeling comfortably full. I think that a good salad—one that includes greens, grains, vegetables and a lot of texture—is the answer (at least some of the time!). Winter salads are a whole different thought process than summer salads. In the summer, we find the freshest things and serve them raw. In the winter, we add grains and beans to salads to bulk them up and bring them to a main-dish level. A delicious cold-weather salad often includes some cooked items and can be served warm or at room temperature. The juxtaposition of flavors and textures is key—deep flavors of roasted winter squash can be brightened by a hint of citrus; crunchy shallots are a great complement to creamy beans.

Here, I’ve included three of my favorite cold-weather salads. Each can stand on its own, or work as a side dish, and all are good for eating next to a roaring fire!

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Arugula, Farro and Roasted Butternut Squash Salad (serves 6 as an entrée) This salad takes advanced planning; the farro alone can take an hour to cook, but the results are worth the time. Farro is an ancient Italian grain—nutty, chewy and delicious!

2 cups farro 1 large butternut squash 1 sprig fresh thyme, minced 1 large red onion, cut into thin wedges Olive oil (about ½ cup total) 1 cup balsamic vinegar 1 cup walnuts 4 cups baby arugula 2 ounces goat cheese Preheat oven to 350.

In a heavy stock pot, combine the farro in 5 cups water and a generous amount of salt.

Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce to a simmer, and cook until al dente, checking often after 45 minutes. (Note: Compare to package directions; sometimes farro is “pearled” and will take less time to cook.

Follow package directions, and check often for doneness.) Drain and set aside to cool.

Carefully peel the squash and remove the seeds. Cut into ¾-inch cubes. Toss with a drizzle of olive oil and spread on a sheet pan. Sprinkle with thyme, salt and pepper.

Roast in the oven for about 15 minutes, then flip carefully. Toss the onions with a bit more oil and add to the pan. Roast another 20 minutes until both the onions and the squash are tender and beginning to brown.

Remove from oven and set aside to cool.

In a small but heavy saucepan, heat the balsamic over medium heat. Cook until syrupy and reduced by two-thirds, stirring often.

Toast the walnuts in the oven until fragrant, about 5 minutes.

Toss the arugula and farro in a large serving bowl. Top with the roasted vegetables and walnuts. Crumble the goat cheese over.

Drizzle with reduced balsamic and serve at room temperature. r vhomemaga zine .com

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Shaved Brussels Sprouts with Asian Pear, Roasted Hazelnuts and Bacon (serves 8) Raw Brussels sprouts are full of crunch and flavor—and my kids have grown to really like them!

1 pound Brussels sprouts 1 Asian pear ½ cup hazelnuts (substitute almonds if you can’t find hazelnuts) 6 slices cooked bacon, crumbled ¼ cup vegetable oil

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4 tablespoons lemon juice 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard Salt and pepper to taste Preheat the oven to 350.

Slice the Brussels sprouts, staring at the top and slicing across thinly.

Discard the stem ends.

Toast the hazelnuts on a rimmed baking sheet until fragrant, about 7 minutes.

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Halve and core the pear, then cut into thin slices.

In a small bowl, combine the oil, lemon juice and Dijon and whisk to blend. Add salt and pepper to taste.

In a large bowl, combine the Brussels sprouts, pear, hazelnuts and bacon. Drizzle with dressing and toss to combine. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

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Pan-Fried Cauliflower and Carrots with Black Rice and Crispy Shallots (serves 4) Cauliflower is enjoying a year of popularity.

In this salad, the colors are beautiful and the crispy shallots are the perfect topping!

4 shallots 2 tablespoons flour ½ cup vegetable oil ¾ cups of black rice, cooked according to package directions and cooled 1 head cauliflower, cut into bite-sized pieces 4 carrots, peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces 1 15-ounce can cannellini beans, drained ½ bunch fresh flat-leaf parsley, stems removed and coarsely chopped Juice and zest of a lemon ¼ cup hazelnut or walnut oil Slice shallots crosswise and separate into rings. In a small bowl, toss shallots with flour.

Heat the vegetable oil in a small saucepan.

Test to see if the oil is hot enough for frying

by dropping a shallot ring in; if it bubbles vigorously, it’s ready! Fry the shallot rings in two batches until browned and crisp, about four minutes. Drain on a paper towel, salting immediately. Set aside.

Heat a tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add half the cauliflower and carrots and cook, stirring until they start to brown in spots, about 15 minutes. Add four tablespoons water, cover and cook another two minutes. Set aside. Repeat with remaining carrots and cauliflower. (Note: Unless you have a HUGE pan, do this in two batches so that the vegetables have plenty of room to brown instead of steaming.)

In a small bowl, combine lemon juice and hazelnut oil. Whisk to combine, and salt and pepper to taste. In a large serving bowl, combine rice, carrots and cauliflower, beans, chopped parsley and a tablespoon of lemon zest. Toss to combine. Drizzle with dressing and toss again. Top with crispy shallots and serve.

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Love

ISLAND R o a n o ke Va l l e y h o m e E a r l y S p r i n g 2 0 1 6

By N o el l e M i l a m P h ot o g r a p hy by Kev in H u r l ey

O

ff the coast of Wilmington, in southeastern North Carolina, lies a little slice of heaven.

At least that’s what Julie Boxley thought when she first started vacationing on Figure Eight Island with her family over 30 years ago. Figure Eight Island is a unique coastal settlement among the barrier islands of the southeast because it is convenient to Wilmington yet completely private (accessed only through a gatehouse) and uncommercialized. There are no restaurants, hotels, nightclubs or mini-golf courses—not even an ice cream shop. If you need to buy sunscreen or a boogie board, you’ll have to head back over to the mainland. The fivemile island is home to sea turtles, crabs, fish, many species of sea birds, and fewer than 500 single-family homes. Residents, their guests, and fortunate summer renters access the island via a bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway, crossing acres of marshland that stretch invitingly toward the picturesque island, meandering past a yacht club, pool and tennis courts before intersecting Beach Road. Beach Road extends north and south along the length of the island. Houses on the western side of Beach Road enjoy panoramic views of the ever-changing marsh and Rich’s Inlet, with its meandering serpentine waterways from which the island gets its name. Homes on the eastern side of Beach Road enjoy views of the island’s miles of pristine white sand beaches and the Atlantic Ocean beyond.

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Figure Eight Island was developed in the 1970s by a group of local Wilmington businessmen and architects with a vision of a relaxed beach community in harmony with the ocean and marsh environments. Ligon Flynn, one of the original architects, had a specific goal of building homes there that blended and complimented the exquisite natural beauty of the place, and most homes, even the yacht club and tennis areas, are crafted to carefully blend into the natural habitat of live oak and tidal marsh, sea grass and palm. There are a handful of private homes that are available seasonally as rentals, and renting a beach house is how Julie Boxley and her husband Ab came to fall in love with the island, and, fortuitously, with each other.

In 1993, Ab Boxley, a young business executive and president of Boxley Materials Company from Roanoke was visiting Figure Eight Island with his family, and Julie and her family were renting a house down the road as they did every summer. “I was there for our family’s annual beach vacation,” recalls Julie, “and walking down the beach one day, I spotted this handsome 56

guy reeling in a fish he’d just caught in the surf. I approached, asking, ‘What did you catch?’” The two chatted for a few minutes and Julie continued with her walk. Little did Ab Boxley know, he had just made the catch of his life. The couple was married a little over a year later.

Fast forward a dozen years to 2006, and the Boxleys have a busy family life in Roanoke, running a business, raising four young sons and expecting the birth of a daughter. The family made their permanent home in Roanoke, but always made room in their schedule to spend several weeks each summer on Figure Eight, overlapping with Julie’s family’s rental so that they could reunite for several weeks every summer. “The years went by like that, renting the house for a week, and then two weeks, and then three weeks,” Julie explains. Then one day Ab suggested that they look into buying their own house on the island that was so special to them. “At first I thought he was just teasing me,” Julie laughs, “and I told him, ‘Don’t dangle the possibility of a beach house unless you really mean it!’”

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“It’s just like a playground out there!” Julie laughs. “You can fish and crab off the pier, the kids take their little boat out, there are kayaks and paddle boards, and relaxing seating and of course, the grill, all built to take the most advantage of the westward-facing view and the evening sunsets.”

It turns out Ab did mean it. The couple looked at several beach houses that would meet the needs of their family, finally narrowing the selections down to a half-dozen or so. Ab fell in love with a fixer-upper, but one that had potential. It had an expansive (though underutilized) marsh view, and was located on “The Ridge,” a portion of the island located 28 feet above mean high-tide line, which expanded the view potential and afforded some protection from hurricanes and storm surges common in the region. “This house needed more work by far than any of the others, but there was just something about it,” Julie recalls. “Ab had a vision. He walked in that house, and something just clicked in his mind about how to make that house work for us.”

So the Boxleys began what would be a year and a half of extensive renovations on the house. They replaced the roof and all the windows, tore out acres of wall-to-wall carpeting and redid the floors, and renovated the kitchen and all the bathrooms. “Basically, we took it back to the studs.” Julie explains, noting that they also made a few structural changes— making the dining room smaller to give them more outdoor space on the porch, and opening the view up of the marsh beyond. The couple also decided to remove the original two-car garage that was front and center when pulling into the driveway.

“I felt like, when you pulled up, you could have been anywhere.

You couldn’t see the marsh. We wanted to see it when we pulled into our driveway because the marsh is truly stunning.” She and Ab sacrificed the first garage to create a breezeway opening straight through to the marsh, and converted the second garage into a first-level family room/kids’ area. They were able to connect with the original architect of the house, Ligon Flynn, and between the three of them they pursued the goal of opening up the beautiful marsh view to the house and grounds as much as possible. They built a pier and connected all the outdoor areas with decking and stairs. “It’s just like a playground out there!”

Julie laughs. “You can fish and crab off the pier, the kids take their little boat out, there are kayaks and paddle boards, and relaxing seating and of course, the grill, all built to take the most advantage of the westward-facing view and the evening sunsets.

With a newborn, I was reluctant to take on a huge project, and unable to be as involved as I would have liked. I give Ab and Ligon all the credit for the house.” r vhomemaga zine .com

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As construction came to an end, Julie heard that a Roanoke interior designer, Lynn Warren with Stedman House, Inc., had recently lent his expertise to two other beach houses and was therefore up-to-date on issues of special concern to owners of coastal homes—such issues like waterfront glare, all-weather fabrics, and other suitable furnishings. The two met, and Warren presented a plan that was both practical and elegant to outfit the Boxleys’ Figure Eight Island house with furnishings that could withstand the unique coastal elements as well as legions of wet, sandy children. Julie says, “I absolutely love everything he did.

It’s perfect.”

Warren really understood the vision for this house. Julie wanted it to be bright and airy, uncluttered and relaxed.

The signature colors of turquoise and coral are continued throughout the three-story home. The Boxleys work hard to keep the home simple and restful. “I have to resist the temptation to embellish because the simplicity is what is so compelling,” says Julie. She reminds herself that each time she brings a new guest to the home, they exclaim that the home has such a restful, uncluttered feel, like the beach itself, and it renews her dedication to simplicity.

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Guests are greeted by an 8-foot heron constructed out of salvaged wood—a cherished birthday gift given to Julie from her husband a few years ago.

Guests enter on the ground floor, through the now-exposed breezeway through to the marsh. Here they are greeted by the cheery and bright coral wall in the entry and stairway that goes up through the heart of the house. The ground floor is home to the boys’ bunk room—a large, masculine room, with two sets of bunk beds and a large bath.

Also on this floor is a generous laundry, which Julie deems “the nicest place I’ve ever had the privilege to do laundry!”

Finally, to the right of the ground floor entrance is the second family room, or kids’ room. With five “kids” (Buck 26, Sam 19, Joe 17, Charlie 14, and Sallie 9), the Boxleys certainly get a lot of use out of this multifunctional TV/ gaming/socializing area, complete with comfortable, overstuffed furniture and teal-patterned bean bags, and built-in cabinets for equipment and technology.

The back wall presented a challenge with its oddly spaced beams, but that problem was neatly solved by ingenious handmade wooden panels. Julie found a local woodworker who laser cut the vertical wave/fish/starfish pattern into white panels then mounted these over solid teal panels so that there was some added dimension to the wall art.

Heading up to the second level, you can’t miss the views through the open stairway risers and out the giant windows, but it would be a shame to miss the other giant in the stairway: a huge 8-foot heron constructed entirely out of salvaged wood and mounted so that it looks as if it has just flown in from the marsh beyond. Julie fell in love with the sculpture at a local gallery in Wilmington and Ab tracked it down and had it brought in for Julie’s birthday a few years ago. r vhomemaga zine .com

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The second floor accommodates three other bedrooms— daughter Sallie’s room, which Julie says is her favorite with its profusion of nautical stripes, plus two guest rooms. Each bedroom is unique, but uses the same palette of colors as the rest of the house for a sense of unity. Each bedroom, including the third-floor master suite, is the soul of simplicity. There are minimal knickknacks and only essential furniture, allowing the room’s occupants, whether they are family or guests, to enjoy the relaxing effect of an uncluttered existence.

Probably the first things you’ll notice on the third floor, besides the breathtaking views, are the soaring timber beams that Julie calls “Belton Beams,” which she explains are a trademark of architect Ligon Flynn’s designs. They provide visual interest, solidify the structure (this is Hurricane Alley, after all), and are made of beautiful, natural materials that compliment the surroundings. The large great room accommodates the whole family plus guests, and the unfussy, comfortable seating arrangement is conducive to conversation and relaxation. The giant Mahi that adorns the wall in this room was caught by son Joe on a spring break trip to Florida and who preserved the bragging rights for all time, here. The renovations done in the dining area have really paid dividends for the Boxleys, as the view is now the show-stopping focal point of the three common areas—living room, dining room, and kitchen. The wooden table is extra large, custom-built and covered with laminated grasscloth, which Julie says was a pleasant surprise. “It cleans beautifully and stands up to a lot of traffic,” she explains. The matching chairs were bought unfinished and stained to a weathered look containing the subtle hues of turquoise and coral used throughout the house.

The carved candleholders that anchor the table were a treasured housewarming gift.

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For a touch of whimsy, the Boxleys installed four “Man Handles”— cabinet pulls shaped like human figures—and set them at random in the kitchen and bar area.

The kitchen, also gutted, opened up, and completely redone, has also married the practical design of this functional room to the beauty of the coastal environment that inspired the home. There is a pass-through between the kitchen and bar area, and another wall was blown out to the dining area. The result: the feel of one continuous space where the common living areas blend seamlessly into one another. In keeping with the coastal feel, Julie selected beach glass tile backsplashes for the kitchen and had the counters made of poured concrete in a light blue-gray color with flecks of shiny materials reminiscent of shells on the beach. For a touch of whimsy, they installed four “Man Handles”—cabinet pulls shaped like human figures—and set them at random in the kitchen and bar area. The wall over the cooktop was removed during renovations to let in the light from the stairway and now provides a perfect view of the beloved heron sculpture.

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The master bedroom and bath are located on the third level of the Boxley home. Decorated simply, with exposed beams and ivory walls and carpet, the bedroom feels like an oasis. The centerpiece is a king-sized bed with a custom upholstered headboard featuring a cheerful shell motif, and a small sitting area provides the perfect spot for a morning coffee. Metal palm sculptures provide another shot of whimsy flanking the large windows. The house’s signature coral color can be seen in flashes: lamps by the bed, a bright occasional table, a tailored bed skirt. A large desk area/workstation provides a place for home-office needs, and also serves double duty by screening the built-in dressers and walk-in closet behind.

The shell theme continues through the master bathroom, which is illuminated by a dazzling mirrored skylight.

Figure Eight Island boasts five miles of Atlantic shoreline and some of the finest white sand beaches around, and the Boxleys and their friends enjoy their beach time. However, over the years they have discovered that the island offers so many diversions. There is something for everyone’s taste, activity level, or even mood, on any given day. “We are never bored,” says Julie. The family spends as much of every summer as they can, plus any other stolen moments from their busy family life in Roanoke, at their special getaway.

They enjoy inviting family and friends to come enjoy their piece of paradise. Sharing the magic of Figure Eight is one of the things that Julie loves best. “I love to see the look on someone’s face when they enter the house and are stopped cold, not by a profusion of stuff or by fancy decorating, but by the overwhelming sense of tranquility and natural beauty we all find there.” It truly is a magical spot—part sky, part water, part lovingly restored retreat.

Julie and Ab can trace their relationship back to its beginning on the island, and still make it a tradition to return for a weekend every year in October for their anniversary. Figure Eight Island is a place they have fallen in love with, where they fell in love with each other, and where they have nurtured their love of family and friends. The Boxley home is a tribute to that love.

Perhaps Julie says it best, as she describes all the ways that this place is important to her: “You just walk in, and you are home.”

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Pretty

n GARDEN GARDEN BENCHES

SITTING

Garden benches provide front-row seats for spring’s premiere

By Cy n t h i a B e M e n t

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Spring may not yet have sprung, but it’s never too early to envision your garden in full bloom.

Winter is the best time to plan your plantfilled outdoor space for the spring, summer and fall—which includes not only what plants you’ll be tending this year, but how you’ll get the most enjoyment from your labors.

Incorporating a bench—the workhorse piece of furniture in any room, indoors or out— into your design will help you transform your garden into an interactive oasis for relaxation, discovery and even utility, year-round. Here, we’ll help you choose the perfect perch for your outdoor escape.

Location, Location, Location

First things first: Identify where a bench may easily fit into your existing garden design, or consider where you might make landscape changes to incorporate one. Find the best views of your yard—water features, fountains and focal-point beds are obvious spots that benefit from a well-placed bench from which to admire their beauty. The base of a flowering tree, near a fragrant bush or next to long grasses are also great locations in which to sit a spell. Other prime places for benches are along walkways and in the farthest reaches of your yard, beckoning visitors to meander all the way through and admire the sights and inhale the aromas of your landscape on the way to a respite spot. A bench can also bring an element of surprise and interest or blend seamlessly into the landscape when placed directly in a bed or around a quiet corner where visitors rarely go.

Next, check the conditions of your potential bench location for ground dryness and for sun/shade patterns. Your ideal spot(s) should be free from runoff and post-rain-shower standing water, and should provide shade for at least part of the daylight hours in which you’ll be enjoying time there. Study sun/shade patterns in your prospective spot for a few days prior to placing your bench there permanently.

Make Room for Multitaskers

Consider additional roles your bench might play in your garden. A backless storage bench can hold tools, small pots, extra potting soil, gardening gloves or hoses. Two benches placed opposite each other can morph into an al fresco dining spot with the addition of a folding side table or two (and a tray of hors d’oeuvres). Similarly, a bench located just off a patio or larger gathering spot can double as a mini-buffet during outdoor parties. And a bench with a backrest and underseat storage can stow children’s outdoor toys, towels, extra sunscreen and bug repellent, as well as serve as a drying spot for towels after a run through the sprinkler or dip in the pool. r vhomemaga zine .com

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Find the best views of your yard; water features, fountains and focal point beds are obvious spots that benefit from a well-placed bench where you can sit and admire their beauty.

Style It Up

Bring in color and pattern to create a focal point with outdoor cushions and pillows arranged on a bench with a backrest that you can change up by the season, occasion or your mood. Iron, cast-aluminum and copper benches with backrests are often adorned with vine, floral or scroll patterns that can add interest to a bland area of your garden or can serve to draw the eye toward a specific plant or architectural feature you’d like to be noticed. Wood and manufactured-wood benches with backrests bring their own flair; traditional, camel-backed, Mission-style, even brightly painted versions mean the accent options for your landscape are endless.

Pick the Perfect Perch

Once you’ve determined a location, style and any desired dual functionality, it’s time to go shopping for your bench (or benches!). Here are some common materials and their advantages out in the wilds of your garden.

Metal: Cast-aluminum, cast-aluminum with copper overlay, and steel are plentiful in garden bench design, typically in benches with seat backs that feature ornate designs. Metal’s durability is its big plus, as it naturally resists chipping and cracking, while the hefty weight of the bench ensures it will stay put (with the exception of aluminum, which is considerably lighter than other metals). Temperature absorption with metal benches should also be on your radar if you plan to bench yourself in a primarily sunny spot (in which case, a combination wood-metal bench with wood seat might be a better option).

Price range: starting around $100 Wood: Teak, acacia and eucalyptus are three prevalent kinds of hardwood choices for garden benches. Like manufactured wood, these woods are more expensive than metal or plastic, but are revered for their durability, cleaning ease and virtually no maintenance, all while providing a natural-looking complement to your garden’s design. Wood also bears the bonus of being an eco-friendly and renewable material. Price range: starting around $300 Pl astic (including resin): Usually lightweight and

easy to move around, plastic benches that feature molded backs with lumbar support and other ergonomic design elements have become commonplace, as have trunk-style, backless benches with lids for storage and designated spots to stash tools. Plastic benches can also feature faux rattan or wood textures for added interest. Price range: starting at $100 6 8

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Composite/manufactured wood: Trex and Polywood are two leaders in the manufactured wood/composite category. Polywood, specifically, is made of durable, high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Advantages to this type of bench are its resistance to cracks, chips, fading, as well as resistance to fungi, insects and saltwater. It also requires very little maintenance. Trex provides the same type of durability, and both are made of recycled materials. Price range: about $300 to $800 Stone/concrete: Whether natural stone, stamped concrete or custom-built from brick or pavers, a stone bench can lend a natural feel to your garden, one that will patina over time. Advantages of concrete or stone include their strength and natural weather-resistant properties, as well as stamped concrete’s ability to be formed into petite, curved benches, often accented with ornate trim patterns. These benches come in a wide variety of sizes and can adeptly squeeze into tight spaces and hug garden bed curves. Price range: starting at $50

Adding a bench (or three) to your garden this year is a sure bet for countless hours of outdoor enjoyment among the blooms, be it in reflective solitude, in boisterous celebration or in a bit of both. Find the right one for your space and you— and your guests—will never want to come inside.

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n IMPROVE UPDATED TRENDS

The Way We

Were

UPDATING DECOR FOR A TIMELESS LOOK

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By R o ry R h o d es

While many of us have experienced nostalgia for days gone by, few folks have “misty water-colored memories” of decorating fads like carpeted bathrooms or harvest gold appliances. In order to keep your home from becoming a shrine to a previous decade, it’s important to update its style every few years. It doesn’t have to be a major overhaul; just a touch here and there will keep your interiors feeling fresh. We all know fashion is cyclical, and sometimes it’s worth hanging on to something until the tides turn back in its favor. But while some pieces will stand the test of time, sometimes today’s trends can be tomorrow’s regrets. Here, we suggest ways to modernize a few familiar looks from previous eras.

Oriental Rugs

The Oriental rug is an undisputed classic, adding sophistication to any space. Yet rug styles and preferences have evolved over the decades. In the 80s and 90s, many Oriental rugs had navy and red colors with intricate details. Aubusson rugs, with their floral patterns and pastel tones, were also popular. Today’s rugs tend to have tribal or geometric motifs, or are vintage pieces with highly faded finishes. If you have a rug that’s looking dated, there are several choices.

If you’re open to replacing your current rug, two of the most fashionable options are kilims and Oushaks. Rich, warm-toned kilims and subtly-hued Oushaks both come in an array of colors and patterns. Unless you’re going for a total room overhaul, look for a rug with accent colors that pick up something in your space, be it the paint or a piece of furniture.

However, if you have an heirloom-quality piece (or you still love it) there are options.

A professional cleaning can unearth colors you’d all but forgotten. Layering it beneath a neutral rug such as sisal can tone down the impact. Take a close look at the colors in your rug and see if there’s a more modern accent shade you can pick out, and use for wall paint or accessories. Alternatively, neutralize the rug by using it in a room with crisp white walls and otherwise restrained decor, where it will be a welcome pop of color. If none of these options work, you can either store it for a few years until it’s back in fashion, or sell it on consignment and use the spoils to buy a new one!

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brightens the room while allowing the wood grain to come through. Faux paneling from more recent times is usually fiberboard with a wood design printed or glued on top, and if you decide to paint over it, you’ll need an oil-based primer.

If you want to remove faux paneling, be prepared for the possibility of bare foundation or framing hiding beneath, so drywall may be required if you want to paint. You can also retain the warmth of a wood paneled room by replacing faux paneling with the real deal. Today’s wood paneling is often horizontal instead of vertical, and planks of weathered, reclaimed wood are especially chic. It’s a terrific choice for an accent wall!

Matching Furniture Sets

For years, a complete set of furniture was de rigueur in pulled-together spaces, particularly bedrooms. These days, a more eclectic, less formal look is in fashion.

Take a look around your home and see if any pieces can swap rooms (a friend with a fresh eye can be really helpful here).

Break up a monotone sofa set by replacing

Wallpaper Borders

Faux Wood Paneling

While wallpaper has made a resurgence in recent years, the wallpaper border is over. To keep detail on your walls, look for wallpaper in updated florals or natural textures. Add interest with wainscoting or beadboard. If you like the way that wallpaper border draws the eye upward, install paneling at 2/3 or 3/4 height around the room, and top it with an eyecatching paint color or wallpaper.

Along with ping pong and foosball tables, faux wood paneling graced many a 70s basement. Though the game tables are fun, it’s probably time to update the vibe. To be fair, not all faux paneling was created equal. Pre-1960s stuff was generally topped with a layer of natural wood and can be nice quality, so it’s possible to achieve a simple update just by whitewashing the paneling, which

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the smallest piece with a chair from another part of the house. Think of new ways to use an existing item—small tables work great beside the bed; chests of drawers can become side tables or buffets, depending on their size.

For wood furniture that looks a bit out of date or whose finish is less than perfect, painting it white or a fun color will impart new life. Dining room chairs, sideboards, and wall frames are popular choices for this look, but don’t be afraid to think big. A bedframe, secretary, or armoire in a bold new shade can change the feel of a room. This is a good DIY project, but if that’s not your specialty, a locally owned home decor shop can either assist or provide a referral.

Valances

Valances, whether alone or atop curtains or blinds, are useful for hiding unsightly hardware, filtering light and views, or to soften a window frame.

However, the right style can prevent them from looking dated. Swags, jabots, festoons, and balloon valances are all styles that were often featured in formal, traditional spaces, while current preferences trend toward more tailored designs that keep the focus on the view and the architecture.

Roman shades, which offer privacy while softening the window with fabric, are a terrific alternative, and can be customized with virtually any fabric. If you like the dressier look of a valance, the trick is to use clean lines—think box pleat or a straight panel. You can also use a patterned valance with solid drapes for a custom look. This works particularly well with either a board-mounted valance or a fabric-covered cornice.

It’s natural to collect decor over time, and many inviting homes successfully layer styles and pieces from different eras. With an update here and there, you won’t have to worry about your home becoming an ode to the Brady Bunch—unless you want it to!

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n DESIGN COFFEE TABLE STYLING P h ot o gr a p hy by Te r a Ja n e ll e

P h ot o gr a p hy by Te r a Ja n e ll e

Clear The Tables!

Inspiration to Give Your Coffee Table a Whole New Look

BY L au r el F ei n m a n

Creating a new vignette for your coffee table is a great seasonal project. You don’t need a huge decorating budget, you can shop your own home, and you can change it out as frequently as your creativity allows—since refreshing it can be as easy as swapping out a few books, adding flowers, or getting a new set of coasters.

Due to the “up close and personal” proximity of a coffee table, occupants and visitors alike feel compelled to inspect the things they find there, making it the perfect spot to show off keepsakes or a unique collection.

Keep your treasures out in the open where everyone can enjoy them and put the “you” into “your home.” So, let’s clear the tables and create a whole new look for your coffee table this spring!

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Set the Foundation

A tray is an excellent anchoring piece, a base layer that keeps everything orderly and compartmentalized. If you use an upholstered ottoman as a coffee table (or even if you don’t), a large tray provides a stable surface for holding books and decorative accessories. Similarly, you can also use stacks of books to display an intriguing object. Setting items on a tray gives them a place to shine, a pedestal upon which to stand.

Petite trays, beautiful bowls and small platters are cute catchalls. Long, narrow, slim, square or round—any shape or size can find a place on a tabletop. Shop your own home and think beyond an item’s intended/original use to find a new way to use it in your tablescape. A baby’s porringer could catch the jewelry you cast off at the end of the day, a handmade pottery bowl could hold your husband’s prized collection of keepsake guitar picks, or a small potted plant can rest on a saucer from an antique china set.

Focal Point

Try Something New

Pull a favorite color from existing furnishings or a piece of artwork and express it on the coffee table through flowers, trays, book jackets or objets d’art. r vhomemaga zine .com

The coffee table is the perfect “lowcommitment” place to experiment with colors, textures and prints, as nothing placed here is likely to overwhelm the rest of the room. Pull a favorite color from existing furnishings or a piece of artwork and express it on the coffee table through flowers, trays, book jackets or objets d’art. Something as small as a decorative box of matches next to a lovely candle can introduce just the right dash of a bold graphic print or bright pattern to your room.

A tablescape is a great place to add an “au courant” tone to your room’s color palette—a trendy hue you might not want large doses of but would love to have as a fashionable accent. For instance, a sleek metallic accessory in antique silver, rose gold or copper would bring a touch of glamor to a tablescape and contrast nicely with the matte surface of a stack antique leather-bound books. A monochromatic white or ivory color palette is a refreshing look to try for spring and summer. Play up this cohesive look and use it en masse through several kinds of white flowers in a white vase on a white tray (you get the idea).

Create your coffee table vignette the way an artist arranges objects in a still life— by establishing a focal point and arranging other items around it. It’s a familiar suggestion that items displayed in odd numbers (3s, 5s or 7s) are pleasing to the eye. A tall sculpture, vase or flowers will add dimension, but do consider the length of your coffee table and how it relates to the height of those taller objects, so nothing will appear to teeter on top of it.

To strike an overall balance for your tablescape, think about the composition of your items. Play with the varying heights and the visual heft of your things (whether they appear heavy or lightweight) to keep your collection of candlesticks from looking spindly, a bunch of boxes from looking chunky, or piles of round things from resembling a group of playground balls.

Opposites attract, and it’s fun to pair shiny objects with others with a matte finish. Round with rectangle, big with small, modern with antique.

Sneak in a humor book among your art books or display a silly cartoon in a formal silver frame. Cross over into an entirely different style of decor to add a delightful touch of quirk and personality.

Just try not to smile when you see that one oddball item in an otherwise very traditional tablescape!

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Creating balance in your tabletop arrangement is a bit of an experiment—testing the mass and weight of one item and measuring how it works against another. The best way to test it is simply to play. Try a group of things together, take something away and put something else in its place.

Natural Textures

An item from nature introduces interesting textures to a tablescape. Gathered pinecones, shells and the like, or the smooth horn or mother-of-pearl handle on a magnifying glass all are organic items that conjure up a sense of history. Live plants are slightly sculptural and add “life” to a display. Just be sure to choose plants that favor low light if your coffee table sits some distance away from a window, and place it on a saucer or a plate, to protect the surface of whatever’s underneath it from moisture.

A bell jar or a cloche can be used to highlight any special item and elevate it into a piece of art. A bell jar is a dome-shaped glass display case/dust cover that comes with a base. The glass dome fits into a groove on the base, creating a seal that prevents air from seeping in or out. Therefore, a bell jar is best used to display inorganic items like Baby’s first pair of shoes, preserved flowers or a figurine.

A cloche is similar to a bell jar but doesn’t come with a base.

Gardeners use cloches to protect outdoor plants from frost, though indeed they may be used indoors too. Most cloches have a bubbly hand-blown appearance and have a small glass knob on top. Cloches keep humidity up for indoor tropical plants that need it, like orchids and ferns (and they can be used to protect tender leaves from nibbling cats, too!).

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A bell jar or a cloche can be used to highlight any special item and elevate it into a piece of art.

P h ot o gr a p hy by Te r a Ja n e ll e

Open-mouthed jars or shallow bowls can be used to grow succulents—dry climate plants that don’t need extra humidity. Consider repurposing a breadbasket, pasta bowl, punchbowl or vintage pie plate for a succulent garden.

Lanterns and hurricanes with pillar candles inside can be slightly nautical or very traditional.

Your tablescape will look gorgeous when illuminated by the glow of candlelight! Use scented, unscented or even battery-operated candles inside. Or, you could even fill yours with seasonal items like candies or colorful baubles.

Finally, don’t forget to put as much thought into what’s under your coffee table as you do what’s on top. If yours is the kind of table that can accommodate a tuck-under, consider stashing poufs, storage baskets, or even a smaller table or stool layered underneath. You can even make tidy stacks of board games or fill baskets with your favorite “keepsake” magazines (like HOME)!

Your coffee table has the potential to be so much more than just a coffee mug-resting pad.

Design yours to be a knee-high display space that gets everyone talking—a place where you can share your interests and personal style with friends and family through the treasures you’ve chosen to showcase on it.

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n LIVE HARDWORKING ENTRANCES

WRANGLE YOUR WINTER GEAR

The Drop Zone

By R ach el B e a n l a n d

In my 1960s rancher, the front door opens directly into the living room.

There is no entryway, no foyer and certainly no mudroom. As a family of five (six if you count the dog), our cast-off shoes, abandoned backpacks and discarded dog leashes are a year-round problem.

When the weather is cold and wet, and coats, boots and woolens litter my living room, my entrance’s shortcomings become all the more obvious. It’s easy to convince myself that I need a mudroom the size of the Taj Mahal, but it’s much harder to figure out what to do with the space I actually have.

If—like me—all you’ve got is a wall to work with, don’t despair. With some thoughtful considerations and maybe a dash of patience, I could likely turn this situation around before the spring thaw (and its host of problems—namely, mud). No matter where you enter your own house— the front door, the back door, the garage—these tips can turn your entrance into the hardest-working room in the house.

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Hang Up Your Coat

Choose the wall closest to your home’s main entrance and install enough coat hooks for every member of the family to use at least two—one for a jacket and one for a bag. Don’t forget to allocate a hook for the family dog so you’ve got a handy place to hang a leash.

Mount the hooks at different heights for more versatility. All of us, but children in particular, are more likely to hang up our coats when the depository is in plain sight and at eye level.

If hiding coats away in a hall closet is your only option, consider installing a second hanging rod that young children can reach. Another option is to buy a closet rod extender, which hangs from the original wall-mounted rod. If your kids can’t reach the coat hangers, you’ve lost the coat-hanging battle before it’s even begun.

Kick Off Your Shoes

While many homes feature a console table in the entryway, family may be better served by a bench. It’s useful to have a place to sit, particularly during the winter when lacing and unlacing boots can be hard going.

r vhomemaga zine .com

The empty space underneath a bench also makes for great shoe storage. Purchase as many baskets as will comfortably slide underneath and label them with the names of your family members.

To corral your family’s messiest footwear, buy a boot tray; they’re designed to hold several pairs of boots at a time and to catch mud and pooling water as your boots dry. Position a hardworking boot scraper just outside your front door to keep the worst of the winter weather outdoors where it belongs.

Even if the floor of your entryway is tiled, invest in a pair of heavy duty, easy-to-wash doormats and position one on either side—exterior and interior—of your entrance. Throwing a doormat in the washing machine is easier than getting out the bucket and mop, and over time, the mats will reduce general wear and tear on your floors.

Make sure everyone in your family has a comfy pair of slippers, and store them by the door. Designate one basket for slippers, so they don’t mix and mingle with everyone’s dirty shoes. Your family will be more likely to wear them if they’re within an easy arm’s reach.

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It’s All in the Arms

When it comes to keeping winter woolens organized, your best bet is to select one hat, scarf and pair of gloves for each person in your family and hide the rest away in a nearby dresser. If you’ve got the drawer space, consider assigning each family member a drawer.

When you enter the house, stuff your gloves and scarf into your hat and shove the wooly bundle down the sleeve of your coat. If the trick seems elementary, it’s because it is; I learned it from one of my son’s elementary school teachers. Anything that keeps a classroom of two-dozen school children organized can work for a small family.

Before You Walk Out the Door

Successfully wrangling your household’s coats, footwear and woolens is a big accomplishment.

But don’t stop there.

Buy an umbrella stand so you’ll have a place to stow both wet and dry umbrellas. To cut down on the time you spend looking for your keys, pick out an attractive, wall-mounted key hook that you can hang by the door.

An entryway is a great place to hang a mirror.

Use it to give yourself one last glance as you head out the door in the morning. In the evening, when you come home to a well-organized entryway, use

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n LIVE AROUND TOWN Museum members receive free admission to any Taubman exhibition. Tickets to the general public are available for purchase online at www.taubmanmuseum.org/rockwelltickets.

American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell has been made possible with generous support from National Endowment for the Arts; the Henry Luce Foundation; Curtis Licensing, a division of The Saturday Evening Post; Norman Rockwell Family Agency; and the Stockman Family Foundation.

For additional information, visit the Museum’s web site at www.taubmanmuseum.org.

N o r m a n Ro c k we ll (1 8 9 4- 1 9 7 8 ) N o Sw immin g , C ove r of T h e S at urday Eve nin g Po s t , Jun e 4 , 1 9 2 1 O il o n c a nva s , 2 5 ¼ x 2 2 ¼ N o r m a n Ro c k we ll M useum C o ll e c t i o ns

Taubman Museum of Art Presents Norman Rockwell Exhibition

The Taubman Museum of Art is pleased to present a major exhibition exploring the legendary American illustrator and artist Norman Rockwell and his unparalleled role as an icon-maker and storyteller.

American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell will be on view March 20 through June 12 at the Taubman, 110 Salem Avenue SE. Organized by the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Mass., the exhibition features original works drawn from its permanent collection.

Rockwell (1894-1978) painted the best of America, creating indelible images of the lives, hopes and dreams of Americans in the 20th century. The exhibition includes such beloved and well-known images as Triple Self-Portrait (1960), Girl at Mirror (1954), Going and Coming (1947), and Art Critic (1955), as well as preliminary sketches, The Saturday Evening Post covers, photographs, color studies and detailed drawings.

The rare exhibition chronicles Rockwell’s career during 65 years of painting and highlights his unique artistic legacy that profoundly influenced American perceptions and ideals.

Visitors will enjoy more than 55 of his most well known paintings, 323 The Saturday Evening Post covers, two audio tours (one for the ageless and one for children), an introductory film narrated by Rockwell’s son Peter Rockwell, and have the opportunity to visit the Museum kiosk shop to purchase Rockwell-inspired items.

American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell will be the inaugural exhibition in the Museum’s new Special Exhibition Gallery. A member preview day is scheduled for March 19. r vhomemaga zine .com

Drab to Fab Kitchen Contest

Do you hate walking into your kitchen every day? Maybe the cabinet doors don’t close, or the countertop is cracked or maybe you can’t turn around without banging into the fridge. Maybe you feel like you would rather entertain and host your guests in the garage. The Cabinet Gallery of Smith Mountain Lake in collaboration with Smith Mountain Building Supply want to get you out of the garage and into a brand new beautiful and functional kitchen. Beginning Monday, February 1 we invite you to enter the $25,000 Drab to Fab Kitchen Contest with a 3-minute video entry* of your ugly and outdated kitchen as well as a short description about why you need a new one. The contest will run from February 1 to March 31 with one grand prize winner being announced Monday, May 2. For more information about this contest, please contact Morgan Kreutz at the Willard Companies via phone at (540) 721-5288. *All entries must meet certain specifications and requirements.

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Gene’s Trading Post. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

National Pools of Roanoke, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . 8

George’s Flowers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

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Goldsmith Appraisal Service, LLC . . . . . . . . 38

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Grand Home Furnishings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

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Protect Painters of the Roanoke Valley . . . . . 73

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JMS Builders/Developers, Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Seven Oaks Landscape Hardscape . . . . . . . . . 7

Joe Patrick Kraft, Realtor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Southern Lamp and Shade Showroom . . . . . 16

Kevin Hurley Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

Spectrum Stone Designs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

VA L L E Y

GARDEN

■

LIVE

Abingdon Virginia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

Accents on Windows. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Astonish Antique Restoration. . . . . . . . . . . . 43

B P Roy Construction LLC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Better Wood. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

Bob Riddick Roofing, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

Boxley. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Bush-Flora Shoes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Cabinetry With TLC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Callie Dalton, Realtor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Capps Home Building. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Carilion Clinic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Liberty Christian Academy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

LinDor Arts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Carilion Clinic Cosmetic Center. . . . . . . . . . 69

Magnolia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Elaine Stephenson Interiors, Inc.. . . . . . . . . . 31

Meridian Wealth Management . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Embrace Home Loans. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Mill Mountain Theatre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

F&S Building Innovations. . . . . . . . . . . . 26, 27

MKB Realtors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

8 2

The Columns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

TINK’s Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Vinton Appliance Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Whitt Carpet One Floor & Home. . . . . . . . . 16

Wisler Plumbing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

R o a n o ke Va l l e y h o m e E a r l y S p r i n g 2 0 1 6

The curtain rises on another day

IN HISTORIC ABINGDON.

HOW WILL YOU SPEND IT? Catch a performance at

BARTER THEATRE. Pedal along the scenic

VIRGINIA CREEPER TRAIL. Sample the cuisine including

LOCAL BEER AND WINE.

888.489.4144 路 visitabingdonvirginia.com

Make the VISION and DREAMS you have for your home a reality!

Are you looking to improve your home? Whether you have been in your home for years or you are purchasing a fixer-upper — Embrace Home Loans can help! Our Full 203k Renovation Loan offers structural alteration and reconstruction, changes for aesthetic appeal, improved function and modernization, flooring, tiling, carpeting and much, much more! Call us for more details.

Call or stop by your trusted local Roanoke office today! www.embracehomeloans.com

540.375.3190

5044 Keagy Road, Ste. H100 Roanoke, VA 24018 Embrace Home Loans, Inc. NMLS ID#2184 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.com) is licensed in VA.