Home and Garden

EarthBox/Newport News Daily Press/MCT
The MiniGarden from EarthBox is a system of containers that allow you to grow indoors or outdoors.

MiniGarden a small growing system

Now you can garden anywhere and anytime, thanks to the new MiniGarden modular growing system.

Perfect for urban dwellers and suburbanites alike, MiniGarden's system of modules creates a self-contained vertical structure for vegetables, herbs, flowers or houseplants. It comes from EarthBox, which makes self-watering patio container gardens.

The MiniGarden system can be installed indoors for kitchen use or outside on patios, porches and decks. A MiniGarden can even be used to create a rooftop garden, or the modules can be used on and around fences or used as modern window boxes.

Photo courtesy of Deseret Landscape Design
A beautiful yard doesn’t have to be a burden or a budget-buster. Abstract shapes, vivid or natural colors, and large rocks as accent pieces all add visual appeal. Learning the proper way to use chemicals to keep the weeds down will reduce the time you spend on maintenance, while a regular watering schedule will keep your lawn lush and healthy.

Tips on having a nice yard

Local experts say there is no way to tell you what you should plant and how you should take care of it, because every homeowner's situation is so different.

"My job is saving people from themselves. Eighty-percent of the homes I see, I can't believe people spent that much money to get something that ugly," said Landscape Architect Paul Keeler of Deseret Land Design in Plain City.

Keeler said it's a good idea to get expert advice on what to plant because even trees that are native to Utah may not be right for soil west of the freeway.

"If a tree has a 60 percent attrition rate, you really aren't getting bang for your buck. Getting bang for your buck is getting a plant that won't die," he said.

Photos courtesy of Deseret Landscaping
With a good plan, any backyard can be transformed into an outdoor living area that blends beautifully with your home and meets the needs of your family, whether you’re creating a sophisticated setting for adult socializing or a safe, secure play area for young children. A professional landscaper can point out architectural elements to incorporate into the design and advise you as to which types of trees, blooms and greenery will best fit your lifestyle, property and pocketbook.

Dream yard: Changing landscape will give home a new look

Creating an outdoor living space isn't cheap, but it is a viable alternative for someone who wanted to build their dream home and now has to work with what they have.

"A lot of our clients wanted to build a green home -- but with the economy, work or being able to qualify for a loan -- that's gone," said Landscape Architect Paul Keeler of Deseret Land Design in Plain City. "To take out a loan is almost a joke. People have to work within their means, and some have pretty good money saved up. They can't get into their dream home, so instead they're making updates on the existing home. We're doing a ton of nice outdoor social spaces like outdoor kitchens, decks and patios that make you feel like you're in a new home."

Keeler said the outdoor room is an extension of the home with the same look, taste and feel. The outdoor room can bring privacy and the "wow" factor to the yard, help control the sun and increase the day-to-day usability of the yard.

Marlin Levison/Minneapolis Star Tribune
At left, Nora Hatting, 8, and brother Eli Hatting, 6, eat their lunch on the recycled glass center island of their renovated kitchen. Their dog, Gary, looks on.

Eco-friendly kitchens continue to gain steam

Just a few years ago, calling a kitchen green would have meant the walls were painted sage.

Today's green kitchens have nothing to do with color. They're environmentally friendly, energy-efficient and nontoxic. They boast countertops made of recycled glass or paper, and floors of renewable bamboo or cork. The appliances use less energy, and paint with low volatile organic compounds (low-VOC) keeps the air clean.

Eco-friendly kitchens, a byproduct of the green building movement, continue to gain steam, even in the sluggish economy, because more people want their homes to be healthier. They also want to do what they can to minimize the impact on the environment. But it took some time for green design to move beyond the back-to-basics style.

Courtesy photos
Above left, HyLoft® Ceiling Storage Units can be used in the garage, basement, attic, closet, office or any room that needs more storage space. Measuring 27-inches-by-36-inches, the Hyloft Express is designed for in-home applications like the laundry room, kitchen pantries, walk-in closets or any small area, and the height is adjustable from 16 inches to 24 inches.

Get more storage space with a ceiling rack

Spring is nearly here, and it won't be long before your college student is coming home for the summer, bringing along all of the things she/he needed to furnish a dorm room or apartment. There not only will be extra blankets and clothing -- there may be kitchen supplies and utensils that will be needed in the fall when the young student once again heads back to school. Or maybe a married son or daughter needs to move back in with a spouse. They will also have things that need to be stored. Of course as a homeowner, you may also need some extra storage space yourself.

Now comes the big question: Where are you going to store all of those items?

Advanced Door of Ogden has the answer.

Do-it-yourself shelving

So you’re a do-it-yourselfer, and you want to solve the problem of family members coming into the mudroom and dropping backpacks, shoes and other items on the floor, leaving the room in a disorganized muddle.

Or maybe you have a blank wall in a big room that needs some floor to ceiling shelving, or a place for a media center.

Working on these problems can be as simple as taking some measurements and designing a simple plan for what your family needs.

Janet Jensen/Tacoma News Tribune
Above, a 65-inch screen TV faces Gordon Robinson’s favorite recliner in his Lakewood, Wash., home.

The ultimate cave: 2,300-square-foot retreat boasts pool table, big screen TV and classic cars

TACOMA, Wash. -- You can call it a man cave, as owner Gordon Robinson does, but Garage Mahal might be a better term.

Sure, it's a basement with recliners, big screen TVs and drinks on ice. But that's only the beginning. Where other dude hangouts end, this one's just starting.

Robinson, 57, built the 2,300-square-foot Guytopia for himself, but it has quickly become just as popular with friends and neighbors.

"Everybody stops by all the time. It's nice," wife Debbie, 55, says.

Debbie has the rest of the 7,600-square-foot house for her own amusements, which include a TV lounge, kitchen and craft room. It's all situated on the shores of American Lake in Lakewood, Wash.

Photo courtesy of Moyes Glass
Doors are available with a variety of features and can be custom made to enhance any living space. Most vendors will gladly work with you to achieve a design that’s energy efficient and expresses your personal style.

Popular and ever-changing doors

OGDEN -- Doors aren't always the first thing you think of when updating a home, but they're an important part of the process -- inside and out. Fiberglass exterior doors have become very popular and cost-effective.

"They are about three times more energy-efficient," said Landon Moyes, of Moyes Glass. They cost a little bit more, but last longer and are easier to take care of. The doors can be treated like wood as far as painting and maintaining, and they do a better job of holding in the heat.

"Steel doors conduct heat," Moyes said. Fiberglass doors don't rust or dent the way steel doors do, either.

Photos courtesy of Moyes Glass
Magnificent mansion or cozy cottage, your home can be enhanced by energy-efficient windows that let in the view and keep the weather out.

Windows, rebates good for consumers

OGDEN - Rebates, tax incentives and great deals from window vendors make right now an ideal time to buy replacement windows.

Landon Moyes, with Moyes Glass, said vinyl windows still seem to be the most popular and economical way to go when buying replacement windows. New construction has dropped off significantly, so Moyes said much of his business involves replacement windows.

Fiberglass windows are a new trend right now, Moyes said, but they cost about 50 percent more than vinyl, so haven't really caught on in the market. While the fiberglass windows aren't necessarily more energy-efficient, they are more durable and don't have the same expansion issues vinyl has.

Photo courtesy of Windowell Expressions
Window wells go from mundane to magnificent with a liner from Windowell Expressions. What looks like a beautiful rock wall is really easy-to-install polyurethane that goes over the existing window well to create an attractive view that can be embellished or stand on its own.

Little touches that make a big difference

Little touches can make a big difference and are a good option for someone who doesn't have the money for a yard overhaul.

"What we've seen is that people aren't splurging on custom and are trending toward 'I just need something that's going to work for me right now,' " said Brandon Brooks from R&L/Best Vinyl Fencing in Layton.

For this type of consumer, Brooks recommends accentuating accessories like trellises, arbors, gates and vinyl planters.

"You can create accent points to spruce up the backyard and add definition," he said.

Roy Inman/Kansas City Star/MCT
Vintage organizers and bins are used for a home-office storage solution.

Creative solutions to space problems

OK, call it a resolution. I'm just a tad overwhelmed by stuff, so the new year seems a fitting time for organization. There are stores dedicated to it, publications with a sole focus on it and people who make it their job to help us manage it better.

While the creative intersection of organization and design can seem challenging, it's actually an opportunity to blend the two into a statement-making environment. When I buy antiques and vintage goods for my shop, it's not always for the provenance or value of the items, but rather sometimes for the utilitarian purposes they can serve. I determine how to enlist these goods as foot soldiers in the war on clutter.

Finishing a basement apartment

Turning a basement into an apartment can add livable space for adult children or elderly parents. It can also be added for extra income if you would like to rent it out.

Converting a basement into an apartment takes a few steps, said Jim Stratton, marketing sales manager for DreamMaker in South Ogden.

First of all, "There really should be a master plan," Stratton said. "The biggest problem we see is that people just start throwing walls up with no game plan. That just creates chaos."

Stratton said designing a master plan that meets building code requirements, getting a bid and then selecting your products will lead to a successful, beautiful basement apartment.

Photos courtesy of DreamMaker
Cabinets come in a wide range of styles, materials and prices to suit any budget. And if you’d like to update the look of your kitchen or bath without a major remodel, the options are plentiful, from changing the cabinet doors to resurfacing the existing ones to simply changing the knobs and hardware.

Change the look of kitchen or bath with new cabinets

OGDEN -- These days, many people are choosing not to move but instead update their home with a more modern look.

One of the most noticeable changes a homeowner can make is to replace or resurface their kitchen and bathroom cabinets.

"If you don't want to replace your entire cabinet, a little cleanup will make quite a difference," said Jim Stratton, marketing sales manager for DreamMaker in South Ogden.

To start with, you can replace the door or the drawer front with new hinges or molding, Stratton said. Those two things alone will change the look and feel of your cabinet. Although painting and staining can also be done, they are more of a quick fix and wear out faster than new cabinets, he said.

Find the latest trends at home, garden show

OGDEN -- Oh what do you do in the spring time when the world starts turning green again?

Hundreds of vendors at this year's Standard-Examiner Spring Home & Garden Show have plenty of ideas to keep you busy, whether you want to re-landscape your yard, install new windows or build an apartment in the basement for your adult children.

The largest trade show north of Salt Lake City has been running for more than 30 years now. It will be held March 4 through 6 at the Golden Spike Events Center, 1000 N. 1200 West in Ogden. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $3 or two for $5 with a Standard-Examiner coupon.

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