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OCTOBER 13, 2011

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Painting is not just for the spring and summerBy Sharon Naylor

In fall and winter, the days are getting shorter, the air cooler, and you're spend-ing more time indoors – which makes this the perfect time to tackle those

room painting projects you didn't get around to last spring. A great many homeowners think

they're limited to the cool spring season when they can open their windows to allow for fresh air circulation during painting, but interior designers say that fall and early winter still allow for the open-window solution without the risk. Continued on page 3

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ROOM COLOR MAKEOVERSContinued fom page 2

What's the risk? Too-cold air wafting into a room can chill your paint supply – especially in the rolling pan – and make application difficult, streaky and perhaps unattractive. But before temperatures dip to a damaging extreme, there's time to paint your rooms. Open win-dows in fall may let in a far more acceptable level of fresh air, espe-cially when you're avoiding the moisture of spring air and humidity of summer air.

Choose Your Hues The rooms you spend time in can affect your mood. During the long, dark, cold winter months, it's far cheerier to spend time in a vibrant, energizing room—for example, one painted yellow, currently a very popular shade. If you rather would feel warm and cozy, your den or bedroom can soothe you in comforting shades of cappuccino or sage green. Visit the website of a popular paint retailer, such as www.BenjaminMoore.com, to take a free "paint color personality" test, which will show you tones relating to specific emotions, e.g., energized, relaxed, roman-tic and more. You even can try different paint colors on images of room layouts to choose the perfect combination for your wall and ceiling. And now, with the new Benjamin Moore iPhone app, you can take a photo of a painting, a flower, a throw pil-low or your favorite item of clothing, and the app will show you an exact color match from the company's collection. "I have a painting on my bedroom wall of a Tuscan garden, and I wanted to match the pink shade in that," says new home-owner Teresa Lestrom. "I tried to match it to those paint strips in the home supply store, but I could never get it quite right. I hear that pinks, reds and greens are really hard to match because of their undertones. But the app gave me the per-fect shade, taking the frustration and fear out of picking our color. And my kids used the app to pick out their new room colors, too." One secret of interior designers is to use lighter shades to make a small room appear larger and to reflect the sunlight that you do get in a room during the fall and winter months. Deeper, darker colors often make a room look smaller.

And designers also say that freshening your ceilings, moldings and chair rails with a fresh application of white or near-white paint gives a room an instant makeover that raises your spirits during the dark, bleak winter months.

Choose Your Paint Type A big trend in paint collections is low-VOC paint. It makes paint-ing in fall and winter even more of a well-timed task because it emits fewer chemicals and odors, making it healthier to use

indoors, especially with small children in the house who have asthma or allergies. Several major brands' eco-friendly paint lines have been tested by Consumer Reports and other notable product assessment companies, so check online for the latest news in VOC-free or low-VOC paints. Bear in mind that these special formulas will cost a bit more than traditional paints, but you may find the health benefits and the lack of fumes to be worth the investment.

Pick Your Time An important factor in fall/winter painting is choosing the right time of day. When you're painting with alkyd- or latex-based paint, allow three to four hours of drying time at recommended drying

temperatures before nightfall to prevent evening moisture from affecting wet paint.

Choose Who's Painting During fall and winter, many professional painting companies are more available to take on your more challenging painting jobs, such as rooms with vaulted ceilings. Investigate expert paint com-panies well, and ask your friends and neighbors whom they hired to get the job done quickly, effi-ciently, with attention to detail and with eco-friend-ly materials and methods. And always hire licensed professionals who have insurance. Invite friends over for a painting party, after which food can be served. Supervise and help chil-dren to paint their own rooms, which gives a sense of ownership and pride, as well as wonderful mem-ories of a colorful family project.

DRABTO FAB

3 easy steps totransform a tired room

By Chandra Orr Need a quick fix for a boring room? There's no need for a time-consuming remodel or expensive new furniture; it's all in the details. Transform that tired room and take your space from drab to fab in three quick and inexpensive steps.

Choose a New Hue "Painting a room is one of the cheapest ways to create an entirely new look," says interior designer Andrea Evans, owner of In the Pink Boutique, a specialty decor shop. "Use bright colors to make the room unique, or if color makes you nervous, try neutral colors and go for more experimen-tal home accessories." For the most dramatic makeover, look up. A fresh coat of crisp white paint on the ceiling will brighten the space instantly, or be adventurous and choose a darker hue to create a cozy feel. "It is a cliche, but paint is the quickest and biggest bang for your buck, and a painted ceiling has the ability to adjust the entire vibe of a room," says interior designer Kristin Drohan. "Painting the ceiling can expand the space if ceil-ings are short, and it can bring them down, creating inti-macy, if the ceilings are tall." Don't forget to tackle the trim. Make that woodwork and molding pop with a contrasting color. Bright white makes a bold statement against darker-hued walls and ceilings, whereas rich browns and warm grays create con-trast against lighter walls.

Fix the Floor Plan "One of the biggest things that you can do without spending a single dime is to rearrange that furniture," says interior designer Debra Lesinski, owner of Interior Style, a design consultation firm. "When you walk into a room with a bad floor plan, you will typically see many furniture pieces up against the walls, with a wide-open floor space in the center of the room – and most people can feel it, that something is wrong in the space," Lesinski explains. From a functional standpoint, shoving the sofa and chairs to the far edges of the room hinders conversation, causes distraction and creates a less-than-pleasant atmo-sphere. "A great floor plan can help a space perform better," Lesinski says. "With all the furniture up against the wall, the traffic cuts right through the center of the room. That unsettles the room emotionally, but rearrange that furni-ture to keep kids and dogs traveling along the outside and you get instant cozy appeal." Arrange seating areas so all the furniture pieces are

Continued on page 10

Experts say that fall is a great time for indoor painting. Vibrant, colorful rooms provide a cheerful environment during those long cold-weather months.

Take your lackluster room from drab to fab with fresh accessories. An oversize mirror, a few stylish lamps and colorful throw pillows instantly update the look of any room.

AT HOME is an advertising supplement to the HERALD Community Newspapers. Copyright © 2011 Richner Communications, Inc.Published by Richner Communications, Inc. 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530 (516) 569-4000 • www.liherald.com

PublishersCLIFFORD RICHNERSTUART RICHNER

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Cover DesignJEFFREY A. NEGRIN

HDo the hard thing now that'll make your life easier laterBy Sharon Naylor

How messy is your basement? Fall and winter can be the perfect time to get your space in order. According to a 2010 survey by the Soap and Detergent Association, 60 percent of

Americans regularly engage in a thorough seasonal cleaning to remove clutter, clean their houses and eliminate asthma and allergy symptoms, which can be brought on by dust and mildew. The survey also reports that getting rid of excess clutter would eliminate 40 percent of the housework in an average home. Diane Albright, an organizing and productivity expert and the creator of Work Piles Made Easy and Ten Minutes a Day to Organizing Success, provides the following important perks to cleaning your basement:

• Saving you time and money. Albright says, "The average person wastes 55 minutes a day looking for things they know they have but can't find." Albright says that if you have to buy something new that is actually hidden in your basement clutter, you're wasting money, time and space. An organized basement lets you remember what you have.

• Making your family more self-reliant. An organized system in your basement allows you and your family members to find things without your help.

• Preventing injury. "If your basement isn't organized, you risk injury to yourself and to your items. Piles can topple, breaking items, or someone can trip over items on the floor."

• Preventing invaders. "If your basement is a heap of items, you won't know who has made a new home in the heap, such as mice, bugs and possibly a squirrel."

• Preventing water damage. Albright says, "If your belongings are sitting on a floor that retains moisture (especially in the rainy season), the items in the box may be holding that moisture, as well." In addition to those conditions, many people say it just feels better to have an organized basement in which everything is in its place. Albright provides the following tips to help youguide your family in a fall/winter basement cleanup:

• Gather your supplies. Albright says that the right tools make the job easier. Gather a variety of bins, and mark them for purging ("garbage," "donate," etc.) or sorting ("electronics," "holiday" and other categories). Use a label maker with waterproof labels to help your team easily ID your bins.

• Begin by assigning children easy tasks. "Small children can go through toy boxes, selecting items that can be donated to char-ity," Albright says. "They can also go through their offseason clothing, trying on items to see what fits and what doesn't and placing items they don't like in the 'donate' bin."

• Formulate your plan of attack. Albright suggests starting at one side of the basement and working toward the other side, sort-ing everything into the bins. These are not their permanent homes. They're simply your first step of organization. Once you have your items in boxes, you can better see what you're keep-ing and think about the best organizing system for those items.

• Consider buying new shelving units that match, if it's within your budget, or clean the shelving units you have before plac-ing anything back on them.

• Consider new storage bins in colors so that you can assign a color code for your children's items, one for holiday items and so on. Shop for the bins you need, using coupon codes at home supply stores. If your budget doesn't allow for new storage items yet, reuse any plastic bins you already have. Cardboard boxes may have absorbed basement moisture and probably should be recycled.

• When you are finished filling the bins with items you want to keep, place them on shelving units in a manner that suits your family's needs, for example, placing kids' bins on the bottom shelves.

• When your task is done, admire your work and load your donation items into the car for easy delivery to your local charity of choice.

Albright says the key to organizing your basement is to break the task up into manageable por-tions, even if it's just 10 minutes a day spent on each task. "You may even find that after 10 minutes, you'll keep plugging away because it's not so bad after all," she says.

ORGANIZING YOUR BASEMENT

Get all of your stuff organized and maximize your space.

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ATrends of the seasonBy Randi Satnick

We welcome the browns and burnt oranges as homeowners look to the warmth of the indoors. But, as temperatures fall outside this season, a new surprising color palette rises to set the trend on fashion runways and home décor, according to the designers of Dakota Design Center in Merrick: a spectrum of purples and violets accompanied by grays. Although the royal hue, purple, is a bold choice for many, violets and plums can be introduced as accents through window treatments or by adding spunk to classical pieces and moreneutral backdrops.

Purple is a wonderful compliment to itsfavorite neutral, gray. Grays can be the cool neutral used in more contemporarydesigns or warmed up

by most any accent color. Gray is also a neutral that lends itself to a marriage with various metals, another trend making resur-gence this fall. Dakota’s designers are seeing this trend in furni-ture and hardware. A gray flannel tufted sofa may be adorned with bronze nail heads and sit beside a chrome accent table. The trend can also be found in wall finishes and tiling. Metals such as bronze, copper or pewter are mixed with glass of various translucency and natural stone in a variety of shapes and sizes. The combinations found in tiling this season areendless, making the possibilities to create something personal

and magical in a kitchen or bath an exciting aspect of design.A metal finish for appliances can be one of two or three metals used as accents or “jewels” for your kitchen. Designing multi-faceted backsplashes through the use of complimentarymaterials like metal, stone and glass create interesting andpersonal spaces especially when in a “sleek and sexy” streamlined kitchen or bath! Clean lines in furnishings and kitchen and bath designs are a trend that continues to thrive, but how one personalizes their streamlined space is what’s new and exciting this fall. Introducing more than one finish gives a space added interest. Introducing color, even just a pop of it, makes it personal. So, don’t be afraid to go bold, go purple, go royal this fall! After all, you are the king or queen of your domain. Dakota Design Center, “Your One Stop Shop For The Home,” is located in Merrick. For more information, call 516-377-3440 or visit www.DakotaDesignCenter.com.

COZY COMFORT AT HOME

Give a streamlined look to a bathroom with unique tile combinations

Light the way with a special fixture Add drama to the dining room witha contemporary wall finish

A multi-faceted backsplash gives exciting appeal to the kitchen

Color - even a 'pop' - adds interest to your living space

Apalette of earth tones, spruced up by hues refl ective of autumn foliage, typically take center stageduring the fall in both fashion and home décor.

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Specialty stonework can be that simple change to your home that gives it that extra some-thing guaranteed to turn heads. “A

repaved walkway, some patterned wall stonework, a new sloop – all are key improvements that can rejuvenate your home in the best of ways,” says Steven J.DiMare, CEO of Unified Window Systems, Inc. The Hempstead-based company, long knownto Long Islanders as the place to go to for all your window needs, has now entered the stonework market. The company’s goal is to give homeowners a quality product at an affordable price. “ Home improvement projects don’t have to be the expensive mess and headache many envision,” says DiMare. “With Unified, your new stonework can be done simply, beautifully and without the hassle of rubble and scraps that never get cleaned up. The crew that comes to your home is certified and experienced specifically in stonework and will make certain that your job is done to your satisfaction. That’s Unified’s guarantee.”Teaming up with the industry’s preeminent stonework providers in order to give homeowners the most options of the best products, Unified has broken into the stonework market in a big way. Owens Corning Cultured Stone offers a wide vari-ety of products and textures with the guarantee of one of industry’s most trusted manufacturers. Elderado Cultured Stone and Nicolock Paving Stones turn stonework into an art form with their beautiful designs and their workmanship that’s made to last. If you’re looking for a little something extra, Cambridge Pavingstones’ ArmorTec is a unique concrete mix designed exclusively by Cambridge in order to create a better pavingtechnique that gives your paving stones a smooth, dense and skid-resistant surface with rich color that will keep its beauty and luster even as long as ten years down the line. The options are numerous, and none of them are wrong. With the helpof Unified’s knowledgeable and experiencedsalespeople, they’ll be able to help you pick the right product for you. So if you’re looking for a new way to improve your home without the stress of extravagant costs, Unified’s new stonework products may be the answer for you. “Don’t pass up the opportunity to make your home the best it can be,” says DiMare. To schedule a free in-home estimate call(888) 631–2131 or visit one of Unified’s four showrooms, open seven days a week. You can also check out Unified expansive website at www.uwds.com.

Keep your home’s exterior in top shape By Karen Bloom

A "The exterior of your home makes a lasting and daily impression on your friends and family, along with your neighbors," says Mark Clement, professional contractor and host of MyFixItUpLife home improvement radio show. "While the weather is good, my advice is to get outside and fix up problem areas, work on the landscaping and invest in products that make your home's exterior not only look great, but work great."

Clement, who is in the middle of an ongoing renovation of his 100-year-old home, recommends assessing your needs and thendiving in on projects. "On the exterior of the home there are three big, critical areas I recommend people evaluate every year – the roof, the windows and the entry door. Those are key areas because, along with being visual focal points of the home, they help protect a house from severe weather. And, if you have problems with older windows, doors or roofing tiles, you're looking at higher energy bills and growing problems that can affect your wallet long-term." Clement offers these recommendations for keeping your homeexterior in top shape:

Pay Attention to Your Roof Check your roof yearly (from a ladder or from a neighbor's home with binoculars) to determine the condition of your roof. Look for problem areas, such as missing or broken shingles, along with roofing tiles that may be "flapping" in the wind. These are all indications that a new roof may be in your future. Don't forget to check the sides of your roof. The southernexposure weathers significantly faster than the other sides of the roof, so make sure to carefully examine this one. Also, shallower pitches weather faster than steeper pitches. So again, if your roof has ashallow pitch – like a shed dormer – make certain you can clearly see it to get a true indication of the condition of your roof. If you're in the market for a new roof, investigate polymer roofing tiles as a good option. These impact-resistant slate and shake tiles are man-made in a wide variety of colors. Some tiles, like those from DaVinci Roofscapes® that Clement chose for his home, have a 50-year limited warranty and are ideal for all types of weather conditions, including hurricanes and hail. Since the installation of a new roof exceeds the capabilities of most homeowners, make sure to research and hire a professional roofer. Check to make sure your roofer is insured, licensed andcertified. Ask for a written job estimate and references along withwarranty information for both the roof you select and his installation services.

A Grand Entrance If you can see light around your main entry door from the inside, the door is hard to close or lock, or the door itself is warped, it'stime to consider a new door. Even if you can't see light, air may be moving through gaps in the weather stripping at a surprising rate. On a very cold or hot day,hold the back of your hand an inch or so away from the bottom and

perimeter of your door. If you can feel air movingor a significant cold spot, that's a signal yourexisting door could benefit from better sealing. Determine what role you would like an entry door to play on your home's exterior. Do you want it to be a focal point with a splash of color? Is it important that you have decorative glass in the door system? Will you need vented sidelites to allow more light and air into your home? Think about the weather conditions your home's door faces along with your energy bills. If either run to the extreme, consider replacing your entryway with a high-performance fiberglass door (which has four times more insulation than wood doors).

Trimming Details If you have the opportunity to replace your entry door or windows, make sure to finish off the job with stylish window and door trim. Lightweight and easy to install, weather-resistant synthetic mouldings, shutters and entryway surrounds from Fypon® are a definite do-it-yourself project for any homeowner. Take an eagle's eye look at your home. Most

houses have louvers placed high above the attic or garage spaceto allow ventilation in those areas. And, most houses have wooden louvers that can rot with time. Replacing louvers with insect-resistant and rot-resistant synthetic louvers can improve the home'sappearance and functionality. Wrap it up. Clement recommends that if you have unsightly porch posts you can easily transform them into showpiece parts of your home by using Column Wrap Kits. The decorative synthetic pieces can be installed in less than 15 minutes around existing structural posts and columns to give an upgraded look to any home.

Driveways and Walkways The cooler weather presents an ideal time to think about outdoor renovations that would be uncomfortable under the blazing sun of the summertime. Fall is a good time to think about updating the hardscape elements in the front and back yards. When faced with the prospect of designing a walkway or a patio, decisions have to be made as to the material used. Homeowners have many options at their disposal, but concrete and paving stones are two of the more popular materials. Each has its share of advantages and disadvantages. Pavers offer a breadth of different design possibilities. They come in many different sizes, shapes, colors, and textures. Pavers also can be mixed and matched to create the desired aesthetic. Paving stones are not permanent, which can be good and bad. When laid correctly, they will be durable and attractive. However, if not given an adequate layer of sand and base material, stones can shift or pop up. Concrete has been used for decades thanks to its durability and permanence. This permanence is what draws many to concrete in a home landscape, but it also pushes others away. Because it isless labor-intensive to pour concrete, it is often a more affordable option for patios and pathways. But once concrete has cured, theonly way to change the look is to break it up and start over again. For homeowners who want to revamp their landscapes, the permanence of concrete just will not work.

Hardscaping that makesa difference

“ Home improvement projects don’t haveto be the expensive mess and headache

many envision”

As we prepare to settle in for those cold-weather months ahead, it’s still important to pay attention to what the outside of our homes look like.

First impressions make lasting impressions. The condition of your walkway, the landscaping around it and the overall exterior of your home is just as important as what’s on the inside.

FProtecting your homeBy Sharon Naylor

Fall is the perfect time to schedule a professional checkup on your chimney. Over time, weather extremes, moisture and even wild

animal nibbling and nesting can damage the structure of your chimney, causing perilous dangers inside and out. For instance, chimney leaks and water penetra-tion cause rust in steel and cast iron, weakening or decomposing the metal parts. Somedamages can cost afortune down the road, and some pose serious fire threats and cause the buildup of toxic gases. If cracks and water intrusion are left to compromise your chimney and flue over time, a complete rebuild will be necessary. According to The Brick Industry Association, chimneys require special attention, inspections and maintenance to protect them from the elements. Your chimney is not just the lead-out for your fireplace. In some instances, it is thelead-out for wood-burning stoves and your recently upgraded kitchen, as well. According to the National Fuel Gas Code, when a new appliance is installed into an existing system or an existing appliance is removed from a common vent, the entire venting system, which may include a masonry chimney, must conform to current codes. There are few fall home improvements as necessary as a thorough chimney check, and the trained professional eyes of a licensed chimney repair company will best advise you on your structural needs. Don't make the mistake of trying to save money by re-mortaring the loose bricks you see and calling it a day. Many ofthe dangers are inside your chimney, and experts will send down cameras to locate the weaknesses and threats to be repaired.

• Tuckpointing: The process of tuckpointing repairs the masonry mortar joints between your bricks to safeguard your structurefrom water intrusion and further structural weakness and damage. Expert application will repair your chimney's weak points, returning your chimney to full security and aesthetic value. Your chimney even may return to a greater waterproof standard than it had when it was first built. Many homes are more than 50 years old, so the materials used in tuckpointing and masonry are vast improvements over those decades-old mortar mixtures.

• Crumbling bricks: In advanced stages of disrepair, the faces of some bricks may chip off and fall, posing injury threats and causing weakness in your chimney structure. When bricks flake, or "shale off," the lessenedthickness of the chimney wall allows cold drafts and perhaps even insects into your home.

• Crown damage: The crown of yourchimney is the concrete slab on top of your chimney. If this slab cracks, it can allow

moisture to enter your chimney or home, causing expensive damage. A professional can assess whether your crown needs asimple seal repair with a fast-drying sealantor needs a complete replacement to fullyprotect your chimney's structure and your

home. As another reminder that today's repair materials are far superior to the original mixtures used decades ago, modern sealants are now available in eco-friendly formulas. Ask your chimney repair specialist about the warranties offered by the makers of such products as CrownCoat brushable sealant. Some products offer warranties of 15 years or more.

• Flashing repair: Flashing is the metal strip that connects the

base of your chimney to your roofline. Flashing is immensely important, as itprevents water from seeping into this joint and entering your home. When flashingsections have warped or lifted, they require flashing seal. In extreme conditions, entirely new and improved flashing is warranted.

• Post-repair or replacement sealant: On top of any chimney repair work, such asbrickwork and tuckpointing, your professional chimney repair specialist will apply a water-proof sealant. Ask questions about the type of sealant used, because some sealants have been found to dry into an unexpected hue. The most popular brands used by experts whose work is 100 percent guaranteed – meaning they don't buy the cheap stuff – provide full waterproofing through their modified siloxane, which reacts with the minerals in the masonry materials, creatinga waterproof quarter- to half-inch layer toprotect your chimney. Top-end waterproofing sealants are VOC-compliant and even protect against UV damage and atmospheric moisture. They protect against stains and are mildew- and fungus-resistant, as well as formulated to protect in freeze-thaw conditions. Ask plenty of questions about theproducts your chimney repair team plans to use. It's a terrible error simply to trust that repairmen are going to show up with the best products possible. Ask for the brand names of their materials, and research them online to be sure they waterproof from the outside and are 100 percent breathable, which means they allow water vapors formed when the chimney is in use to pass through the stone and escape into the air; they are not trapped, which would cause damage to the inside of your flue. Look for 100 percent vapor-permeable materials. And ask that chimney flue liners also conform to safety codes. Yes, chimney inspections and repairs are pricey, but they are worth every penny toprotect your home and family.

CHECKINGYOUR CHIMNEY

Check your chimney regularly, as there are many problems it could have.

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Using photographs as art in your homeBy Joseph Pubillones

Open the pages of any shelter magazine and youare likely to find stylish interiors with framed photographs on the walls. From small, colorful instant prints to black-and-white mural-sized

images, photographs have found acceptance as art. Almost any image can be studied, taken out of its natural context and, under the right light, shot to produce an artful wall hanging. The themes are endless, from real and imagined landscapes to close-ups of plants and even photographic reproductions of your DNA. Photographs have become a popular art form, in part because of technological advances but also because of the economy. Nowadays, a simple inexpensive camera can be very precise. The

incorporation of such cameras into mobile phones andmultimedia devices empowers almost any ‘Joe Schmo’ to carry a camera, don an artful beret and bandanna, and consider himself an artist or a roaming paparazzo. Artistic photographs and photographs by famous photographers have gained strength in the art market because of the softened economy. A new wave of artists has focused its artistic endeavors on less time-consuming and highly innovative forms of expression. Generally, photographs are priced reasonably and are by all means alluring. The themes vary from new interpretations of the still life to Photoshopped scenes of daily life and are full of social commentary.

Family photos can be fun to decorate with, as well. Rather than display photos all over your home, concentrate on a grouping of your family on one wall. Resist the urge to showcase that picture of your baby in the buff over the living room sofa. Family photos are best displayed in a secondary area, such as a hallway, den or family room. If you have mingled with celebrities and have autographed mementos or photos, those are best kept in a private room of your home, such as a library or den. They should not be displayed to show off. This would be the equivalent of bragging, which no one appreciates. Only displaying photos of people who would display photos of you is a good rule to keep in mind.

PICTURE PERFECT ADDITIONAL TIPS:

1 A starting point in decorating with photographs is to concentrate the photos on a particular theme. Sailboats, flowers or beach scenes, for example, can make a cohesive display.

2Start with a larger central image, and add smaller secondary images around the perimeter.

3 Sometimes certain powerful images are best viewed on their own without any other distracting images around them.

4Trust your intuition when grouping photos. This is part of your personal expression.

5 To reinforce your grouping of photographs, consider painting the wall a color that contrasts with the rest of the room. Black-and-white photos show especially well on colored backgrounds.

6Use a unifying color for matting and frames for a random grouping.

7 Don't be afraid to mix vintage frames and photographs with newer ones. The mix can create a lot of visual interest.

Using photographs as wall art is a growing trend.

DRAB TO FABContinued fom page 3

room's most striking feature rather than focus all the attention on the television. "Your objective in your redesign is to entertain the eye," Lesinski says. "Once these spaces are rearranged, people can't believe the difference in the way the room feels."

Edit Your Accessories New picture frames, colorful throw pillows and lamps go a long way when adding personality to a room, but don't go overboard. A few well-chosen accent pieces make a bigger statement than anovercrowded hodgepodge of accessories. "Edit, edit, edit," Drohan says. "Take all existing accessories out of the space, and only bring back a few items or add some new ones. Add colorful new lamps or lampshades, and bring in new pillows that have a graphic pattern and a pop of color."

Be sure to update the walls with new artwork, but skip the expensive art prints. Create a designer look for less by shopping at home. Collect maps from your favorite travel destinations; photocopy a few pages from your favorite book; or have your family photos reprinted in black and white. Keep the look cohesive by painting all the picture frames the same color, and look for other wall accents in the same hue. "My favorite way of changing a boring room quickly and inexpensively is through the addition of a large wall mirror," Evans says. "You'd be amazed at the depth and beauty that mirrors can add. They have the innate ability to intensify light, add dimension and attract attention like no other decoration. They can open up any space and maximize light in the room."

Using furniture cuts out to layout your room will help so you won't need to move furniture around.

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How to reduce home energy costs without breaking the bankBy Mark J. Donovan

With energy costs continuing to rise dramatically, the cost of operating a home is becoming increasingly prohibitive. But there are wayshomeowners can fight back and control their

home energy costs. Here are some inexpensive solutions that you can employ to reduce your home's energy costs:

Reduce Hot Water Heating and Consumption Long, high-volume hot showers cost a fortune every year. You can start making your home more energy-efficient by replacing your old shower heads with low-flow shower heads and by sim-ply taking shorter showers. These two simple steps alone can reduce your monthly home energy costs drastically. If you want to

go to the next level in home energy efficiency as it relates to reducing your hot water heating costs, consider putting your hot water tank on a timer or, better yet, replacing your old storage hot water tank with an on-demand tankless hot water heater system.

Better Insulate Your Home A poorly insulated home can increase your monthly energy costs by 25 percent or more. For a more energy-efficient home, assess the insulation in your home to determine whether it meets the standards for your area per the Department of Energy'srecommendations. Pay particular attention to your attic, as attics are notorious for having inadequate insulation in them. Also,adding insulation in an attic is an easy do-it-yourself project.

Replace Old Light Fixtures and Bulbs New compact fluorescent lamps and light-emitting diodes can cut your home's lighting costs by as much as 70 percent. Though more expensive than standard incandescent light bulbs, CFLs and LEDs last for thousands of hours. Also, replace some of your old light fixtures that light up an entire room with new spotlighting options – in the kitchen, for example. In addition to making your home more energy-efficient, this tip will help to modernize your home and add some unique charm to it.

Update Appliances New appliances that are Energy Star-rated are much more efficient than the old clunker refrigerator, dishwasher, washer/dryer and electric stoveappliances you bought 15 years ago. By replacing your old appliances with energy-efficient ones, you can cut your electrical utility costs associated with these types of appliances by at least 20 percent.

Service Home Furnace System Annually It's important from an energy efficiencystandpoint and a safety perspective to have your home heating furnace serviced annually. Whether it is oil- or gas-fired, its injectors and filters clog up, and burned byproducts can build up in the ductwork, which reduces the energy efficiency of the furnace.

Replace Old Thermostats With Programmable Thermostats Running the heat all day in your home while you're not there is a huge waste of money, albeit walking into a cold home after returning from a day of work is no fun, either. However, by replacing your home's old thermostats with programmable ones, you can improve your home's energy efficiency

dramatically and be able to walk into a warm home when you return in the evening. Programmable thermostats allow you to have the heat be automatically turned down during the day when you're not home and up shortly before you return home. Many programmable thermostats also have features that allow weekday and weekend settings.

By implementing these home energy efficiency tips, you should be able to reduce your home energy costs by half, as well as play your role in conserving the world's energy resources.

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How to keep your gutters in good working orderBy Mark J. Donovan

It's important to perform periodic gutter maintenance on your gutter system to keep it working smoothly. Clogged or damaged gutters offer little aid for channeling roof water away from a home, and they can lead to water

damage to the fascia boards, the attic area and even yourbasement. Non-working gutters also can lead to erosion around the home's foundation. Gutter maintenance should be done at least twice a year. The maintenance experts recommend inspecting and cleaning your gutters in the spring and late fall at a minimum. If windstormsand other weather conditions occur or if there are trees near your home, then perform gutter maintenance even more regularly. Leaves, pine needles and twigs can clog gutters. Also, if you observe poor water flow through the downspouts or water

pouring over the sides of the gutters, it's a sure sign that you need to do some gutter maintenance. As part of any gutter maintenance project, in addition to cleaning them out, it is important to inspect them for any holes, cracks or loose mounting brackets that may have pulled away from the fascia board. Check the nails and screws that are holding the mounting brackets to the fascia boards to make sure they aren't sticking out. Replace any damaged gutters if they areunrepairable. Also, check for any mold or mildew growth on the fascia boards. If you see any, it's important to remove it. In some cases, there is little choice but to remove the gutters temporarily to clean and repair any damage to the fascia boards. To check the downspouts, use a garden hose to spray water from the top of the gutter. In some cases, it is necessary to use a

wire brush to push through or pull out anydebris clogged in the downspout. You may have to disconnect the downspout from the gutter if a clog is particularly difficult to remove. When performing gutter maintenance, make sure you use a quality ladder that is well-positioned on the ground, and wear gloves and eye protection. To reduce the frequency of gutter maintenance, you may want to consider installing a gutter guard over the top of the gutters. Gutter guards prevent the infiltration of leaf and twig debris into the gutters. That said, gutter guards are not foolproof, so you still should inspect your gutters a couple of times a year.

Leaf debris that breaks down can eventually work its way through the gutter screens and into thegutters themselves. Most gutter guards are very easy to install and are reasonably priced, so it may be worth investing a little time and money into them to save yourself a lot of time down the road in gutter maintenance.

GUTTER MAINTENANCE

Maintaining your gutters' efficiency will save work in the long run.

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Make your home THE home to buyBy Chelle Cordero

Competition is fierce. Stroll down any neighborhood street and you probably will see at least one "House for Sale" sign. With

so many choices, how can you make sure that a buyer will be drawn to your home at a price close to what you need? A big advantage for the home seller is that owning a home is still considered the American dream. A recent survey by Pew Research Center reveals that 8 in 10 adults "agree that buying a home is the best long-term investment a person can make." Most real estate agents will offer a standard list of basics to make your home more attractive, including clean up the clutter, improve the landscaping, wash your windows and screens, clean your gutter, get rid of smells in your home, shine doorknobs, and wipe fingerprints off light switches. Now is the time you might want to consider renting a small storage unit to "hide" excess furniture, books, clothing or pots and pans. Don't overlook making minor repairs, such as repairing driveway cracks and potholes and patching cracks in the walls, staircases, etc. Making sure that your lawn looks tidy will help to give the impression that your home is well-cared-for. Even minor blemishes can make a house look in disrepair. Putting higher-wattage lighting in your fixtures will make your rooms look larger, airier and "fresher." The real estate market is still in flux, according to Walter Molony, public affairs director at the National Association of Realtors. "We're projecting existing-home sales to rise about 5 percent in 2011, with

additional gains in 2012, but are expecting little movement in home prices because we're still working off excess supply," Molony says. "Conditions are expected to become more balanced next year as loan resets decline, but the timing of the recovery will vary greatly by market area – tied much to growth in jobs."

Molony also offers the following suggestions before you sell your home:

• Get estimates from a reliable repairman on items that need to be replaced soon, e.g., a roof or worn carpeting; buyers will have a better sense of how much these needed repairs will affect their costs.

• Have a termite inspection to prove to buy-ers that the property is not infested.

• Get a pre-sale home inspection so you'll be able to make repairs and elimi-nate prospective buyers' concerns.

• Gather together warranties and guarantees on the furnace, appliances and other items that will remain with the house.

• Fill out a disclosure form provided by your Realtor. Take the time to be sure that you don't forget problems, however minor, that might create liability for you after the sale.

Retailers know to offer exciting incentives to draw potential customers. If you are ready to list your home, consider offering incentives – such as paying points or closing costs, homeowner’s fees, or pool or lawn maintenance for a season. A home warranty on appliances is another good inducement. It is recommended to list your home with a reputable real estate agent rather than do it yourself. Agents share listings, and people new to an area go to them for their expertise. Also, a conscientious real estate agent can offer you guidance in preparing your home for sale. Know your local market, and price your home competitively. Make your improvements and include incentives before listing; the longer you are on the market the less attractive your home becomes to prospective purchasers and the lower you will have to go in your asking price. Finally, Molony lists things to watch for in a purchase contract:

• The closing date.

• Date of possession.

• Look for the largest earnest money deposit possible, because it is forfeited if the buyer backs out.

• What items the buyer expects to remain with the property.

• Requested repairs and their cost.

• What the buyer wants to be met before the contract is final – e.g., inspections, selling a home, obtaining a mortgage or an attorney's review of the contract.

• How long you have to make a decision on the offer.

LOOKING TO SELL

MAKE IT STAND OUT OF THE CROWD. Make those needed repairs and show your home to its best advantage when preparing to sell.

A home inspector can find problems with a home that may not be obvious to the prospectivehomebuyer. Obtaining a professional home inspection by a licensed inspector can help keep the dream of owning your own home from becoming a nightmare. All licensed home inspectors must abide by the New York State Standards of Practice and the Code of Ethics during each inspection. In addition, according to the New York State Department of State Division of Licensing Services, home inspectors must also receive 24 hours of continuing education every two years, which is when they must renew the license, and maintain a certificate of liability coverage of at least $150,000 per occurrence and $500,000 aggregate. “A home inspector will examine a home from a generalist perspective,” says Jim Ruppert, owner of Safe Harbor Inspections, who has logged more than 3,000 inspections during his years in the business. “Inspectors have to know about a full range of components and assess them quickly.” Structural issues can be of paramountimportance to a homebuyer. For example, a long horizontal crack in a foundation can meansubstantial repairs with very substantial costs (upwards of $10,000 or more in many cases). Usually, simple vertical cracks are of littlestructural significance. A licensed home inspector is trained to identify structural issues such as these, along with a host of other systems and components of a home. According to NY State license law, home inspectors must follow a rigorous “Standards of Practice,” which stipulates in great detail what must be inspected according to the laws of New York State. Accordingly, home inspectors are required toprovide a written report to their client, covering subjects such as electrical, plumbing, heating, air conditioning, structure, roofing, siding, drainage, insulation and ventilation, along with many other systems and components. “A good inspector will identify issues and explain the ramifications and suggest how youcan deal with them,” says Ruppert. In addition to having a solid generalist background, he explains, the home inspector must understand the various aspects of real estate transactions and be able to communicate the important findings of the inspection to the client in an unbiased, objective and concise manner. “For example, the home inspector must not report problems as an alarmist or in such a way that could cause the client to interpret the information out of context or make inappropriate decisions regarding the real estate transaction.” With the variety of computer technologyavailable today, a good home inspection firm will offer comprehensive computer generated reports complete with photos, which help explain the results of a home inspection. A qualified licensed home inspection firm will also be certified by a reputable association, such as ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) and MAHI, the Metropolitan Association of Home Inspectors, which is the New York Chapter of the National Association of Home Inspectors. “We urge those who are looking to buy a home to hire a licensed home inspector to look at the house prior to purchasing one,” says Scott Gressin, President, Metropolitan Association of Home Inspectors. “Identifying potential problems will help ensure that the prospective homeowner is getting what they are paying for.” For more information, or to find a home inspector, visit www.mahionline.org.

Finding the hidden dangers in a home

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5026

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FRANK ROMANELLI LANDSCAPE CONTRACTORFRANK ROMANELLI LANDSCAPE CONTRACTOR

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Improvement Guide!

Call 569-4000,press 5, then 2.

5041

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5049

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Andrews ServiceLicensed & Insured Tony 516-790-7121

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