2013 SPRING GUIDE

INSIDE
SPRING PRINTS
HIDE-AND-COOK
SIMPLE WAYS TO SAVE
ORGANIZED LIVING
ILLUMINATING ADVICE
THE MODERN MASTER
TOOLBOX CHECKBOX
MULTIPLYING MILDEW
CUSTOM LIVING
Visiting this springs dcor previews
often felt like exploring an art gallery.
There was an artistic vibe to everything
from dinnerware to drapery, art photo-
graphs to textiles.
Manufacturers are now able to repro-
duce artwork with impressive detail and
precision. Originals that may have been
painted or inked retain evidence of brush
and pen. Computer-generated designs
have greater depth of color and pattern
than in the past. And photo prints are even
more striking.
Zara Home has a bouquet of lovely throw
pillows for spring with vintage prints or
botanical ones reminiscent of paintings by
the Masters. Mariposa features a fock of
Edouard Travies-esque exotic butterfies
on a white background; Lula evokes a
Renoir still life; Spring has a sweet cot-
tage foral; Lannion, Hawaiana and
Hojas tropical motifs have a retro vibe.
(www.zarahome.com )
A spring walk through the Chicago
Botanic Garden inspired artist Matthew
Lew to create an exuberant burst of white
and tan blooms on a bright orange back-
ground, rendered at CB2 on a hand-tufted
rug. The retailers got another modern rug
featuring a graphic brush stroke of linen
white on tonal carbon gray. And artist
Katherine Finn-Gaminos colorful multi-
media geometric pillow is abstract art for
the sofa. (Botanical rug, Swoosh rug, pil-
low, www.cb2.com )
Watercolor paintings of many popular
dog breeds, including Labs, golden retriev-
ers and little terriers, are available from
Pottery Barn on linen throw pillows with
personalized monograms. The needle arts
are showcased here, as well, on linen lamp-
shades stitched with tonal ikat or foral
motifs, and a pillow depicting a vintage bird
postcard in fnely-detailed embroidery.
Photographic art is an excellent way
to bring a creative or unusual element
to your room. Pottery Barn continues
to expand its wall-art series this spring
with a coterie of photo artists who have
made intriguing works at a price point
not easily matched in the market for great
photography.
California photographer Lupen Grainne
creates imagery that combines a pen-
sive Instagram quality with professional
composition. She captures dreamy San
Francisco street scenes and beautiful
fruit or fork still lifes that draw you in.
San Francisco-based Ana Ramirez shell
photographs in stark black and white
highlight the sculptural beauty of nature.
And Prague-born photographer Michal
Veneras expressive black-and-white Tan-
zanian animal prints depict the textural
grace and beauty of the natural world.
Youll also fnd some amazing work from
pro photogs Cindy Taylor and Rebecca
Plotnick. (www.potterybarn.com )
At Crate & Barrel, theres the Monet-like
watercolor foral of the Myrtle pillow,
while the dramatic Landscape pillow,
featuring a winding road through wild
countryside, brings Turner to mind. (www.
crateandbarrel.com )
Birds eggs writ large in fact, 32-inch-
square large are the powerful focal
point of a series of wall art at Wisteria this
spring. The eggs themselves are softly
hued, but the scale of the photographic
imagery is so remarkable that one or more
would be a central feature in any room.
(www.wisteria.com )
Spring prints have artsy vibe
By Kim CooK
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Associated Press
Sky Bird embroidered pillow covers from
Pottery Barn. Visiting this springs decor
previews often felt like exploring an art
gallery. There was an artistic vibe in
everything from dinnerware to drapery, art
photographs to textiles.




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Events - Fashion - Interior Dcor Design
254 High Street - Newburyport 978 . 255 . 2623 www.amymclaughlin.com
Interior Dcor Design
Amy McLaughlin Lifestyles has been featured in the Boston Herald, Newburyport Magazine, Soap Opera Digest, NESN, New York One News, Newport Beach Magazine,
Northshore Magazine and the television show, OC Lifestyles.
Design on a Dime projects
Furnishing and accessorizing of new homes
Redecorating of existing living spaces
Consultation services for do-it-yourself decorating projects
Design in a Box Service - Detailed furniture plan, customized color
scheme, paint and fabric samples all wrapped up in one gorgeous box
Holiday Decorating
Amy prioritzes comfort
while creatng an elegant
atmosphere that refects
your individuality.
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H.G. Webber Antiques
route 1 (495 LAfAyette rd.)
HAmpton, nH 603.926.0192
WANTED: HOUSE CALLS
Will BUY ONE ITEM or ENTIRE ESTATE
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Our long-term clients are our best customers but were always looking for new needs to
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One of the oldest antique shops in New England and well respected in the industry, the firm
was started by Hyman G. Webber in the 1940s. The family tradition continues today in the same
location for over 50 years.
H.G. Webber Antiques offers generations of knowledge and experience inAntiques &Auctions.
Business for 50 years * Same Location
Auction
Every Monday
5:25 pm
For some, the ideal
kitchen is a big, noisy
place where soup bubbles
on the stove and everyone
assembles around a big
table. But for others, the
perfect kitchen is one that
is completely hidden away:
no unsightly stovetop
grill, no coffee machine on
the counter, no imposing
stainless-steel fridge.
Creating hidden kitch-
ens is a challenge, but it
is one I recently accepted
while working with my cli-
ents, Doug and Keith. The
couple live in a beautiful,
historical house that they
renovated in an uber-mod-
ern fashion. But somehow
their renovation hammer
missed their small, pink,
80s-style kitchen that
stood out like a sore
thumb in an otherwise
streamlined home.
Doug and Keith wanted
a seamless path from their
front door right through
to their outdoor patio, and
that meant a kitchen that
didnt obstruct the flow.
Dont get me wrong: They
still wanted a fridge and
a stove and a dishwasher;
they just didnt want to
see them.
For a tiny space, it would
be a massive renovation.
But I knew that by apply-
ing the principle of hidden
design, I could serve up a
delicious, contemporary
kitchen that was simply
out of sight.
To start, I had the whole
space gutted, the elec-
tricity reorganized and
the plumbing rerouted. I
also put down a stunning
dark hardwood floor and
painted the walls in bright
white. Since a big part of
this project was to connect
this tiny kitchen with the
patio, I blew out the back
wall and installed two
huge sliding-glass doors
surrounded by beautiful
zebrawood. This creates
the illusion of not having
a wall between the two
spaces.
Next, I concentrated on
the kitchens two main
walls. The first wall was
all about function; here,
I stacked an oven and
microwave on one side and
hid a stainless-steel fridge,
freezer and wine cooler behind custom white pan-
els on the other side. In
the middle is a white crys-
talline sink with a glass
cutting board that slides
across when not in use.
Below the sink I put some
hidden storage, as well as
a pullout trash and recy-
cling bin.
I chose bright white
quartz countertops and
a back-painted glass
backsplash (and the half
wall/pantry adjacent to
it). This ups the glamour
factor and helps reflect
the light in the kitchen,
rendering the small space
visually larger.
Across from this func-
tional wall, I created
a wall that is all about
beauty. I constructed an
archway of wood, housing
recessed lights, around
horizontal panels of more
back-painted glass. This
stunning wall is highly
reflective and adds a huge
amount of depth to the
little space.
In the middle of the
kitchen, I installed a mag-
nificent kitchen island
with a solid glass coun-
tertop. This island can be
used as an extra prep sur-
face, a casual dining table
or -- with the help of the
integrated LEDs -- a funky,
illuminated cocktail bar.
Hidden in this island are
storage and a dishwasher,
in addition to an induc-
tion cooktop that sits flush
with the countertop. Even
the cooktops ventilation
stays out of sight until
needed.
By the time I was
finished, this kitchen
had everything: tons of
storage, state-of-the-art
appliances and plenty of
modern conveniences.
Everything was just
hidden away behind
cupboards, doors and
drawers. Concealed, clean
and pared down -- exactly
what Doug and Keith
wanted.
What was once a time
warp from another decade
is now a gem of modern
function and beauty that
flows perfectly with the
rest of the house. Out of
sight, in more ways than
one!
Interior decorator
Candice Olson is host of
HGTVs Candice Tells
All. For more ideas,
information and show
times, visit http://www.
hgtv.com/candice-tells-all/
show/index.html. Or visit
scrippsnews.com.
HIDE-AND-COOK
By CandiCe olson
SCRIPPS HOwARD NEwS SERVICE
Kitchen design conceals clutter
SHNS PHOTO
This small, pink, 80s-style kitchen stood out like a sore thumb in an otherwise streamlined
home.
LISTINGS, STORIES, PHOTOS
AND MORE
Every Saturday
THE DAILY NEWS




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INTERIOR INDULGENCES
is a full service design studio
and showroom. Through
inspired design, our team will
guide you on your residential
or commercial project to
achieve a polished and
functional environment.
58 Merrimac Street Newburyport, MA
978-358-8740 www.interiorindulgences.com
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We are proud to be an authorized Organic Land Care
dealer/applicator.
A Commitment to integrity
We take this commitment seriously. When you hire a
company to care for your property, you expect results,
professionalism, and value. With the Go Green

Organic
Land Care System, you can be sure we will not let you
down. The products we use are different from the chemi-
cals used by the average lawn and land care company
and give safe results.
With A go green

ProgrAm,
you CAn hAve PeACe of mind:
We will only use products acceptable under
the strictest organic standards.
We will NEVER use products derived from
human or animal waste.
Communication and education is key.
We promise to keep you well informed.
three ProgrAm ChoiCes
silver, gold, And PlAtinum
Go Green

products and programs are based on improv-

ing soil biology to create a sustainable and effective
growing environment for turf. Based on the science
behind larger scale organic agriculture, the Go Green

Organic Lawn Management Program is a patent pending

turf care system that will create a beautiful lawn without
the use of traditional and potentially dangerous lawn care
methods.
orgAniC tree & shrub CAre
The care of the plants around your home is something
that you cant ignore. Why would you choose to live
a lifestyle that reduces the amount of chemicals in
your home but continue to use toxic pesticides on your
landscape? A conventional tree and shrub maintenance
program is based almost exclusively on the application
of chemicals. Our tree and shrub program is a holistic
approach to improving your landscape.
WhAt About Weeds?
Organic doesnt mean you have to live with weeds and
crabgrass. Our system includes the use of revolutionary
new weed controls accepted under the strictest of or-
ganic standards. While it may be diffcult to completely
eradicate these pests from your lawn, we promise we
will give you the most beautiful lawn that nature can
provide!
orgAniC mosquito & tiCk Control
It used to be that the only way to control nuisance pests
in your landscape was to use to toxic pesticides. The
Go Green

Organic Land Care Program can offer you

the control of many insects around your home without
causing harm to benefcial populations like ladybugs,
earthworms, and bees.
Why orgAniC? Why noW?
Converting the care of your lawn and landscape to
organic, safe, and sustainable methods is something
that should be a priority. We have become more aware
of the impact that our actions have on our health,
environment, wildlife, and water supplies. Go Green

Organic Land Care allows you to maintain top notch

results while reducing the amount of chemicals and
non-sustainable practices that are used in the care of
your landscape. Your lawn and garden is a special place
in your home. It should be safe for your family, pets,
and the environment.
A different APProACh
to heAlthy turf And soil
Eliminate exposure of children and pets to toxic
synthetic chemicals.
Avoid fertilization run-off and water pollution.
Eliminate toxins used to control and eradicate weeds
and insects.
When Renee Pedro
bought a house with mid-
century dcor, she decided
to embrace the look.
Drawing inspiration from
the 1963 Philco oven in her
kitchen, she began hunting
for towels and table linens
with a mod 60s vibe to
complement the appliance.
That oven was my style.
My thing, said Pedro of
Philadelphia.
She was disappointed
by the lack of choices, and
in 2009 began looking for
a way to create her own
textiles to decorate the
kitchen. I couldnt fnd
something that ft my aes-
thetic, so I decided to make
it, she said.
After a year of looking
online, she found a com-
pany that would allow her
to design her own fabric.
Now she runs her own
online business, Crashpad-
designs.com, selling tea
towels, pillow cases and
table linens in mod, bright,
geometric or fowered
patterns that she designs
herself.
Many companies have
begun to offer consumers
the chance to create custom
fabrics and wallpapers.
Advances in printing have
made it more affordable to
create small runs, and to
make high-quality products
faster and cheaper, said
Aaron Kirsch, president of
Astek Wallcovering Inc. in
Van Nuys, Calif.
He sells directly to con-
sumers via his companys
website, Designyourwall.
com. The company also
makes custom products for
the fashion, hospitality and
motion picture industries.
Demand for the custom
products has been steadily
rising, Kirsch said.
Custom wall covering ...
has gone ballistic, he said.
Homeowners can create
their own wall covering for
about $6.50 a square foot,
he said.
Custom fabrics run about
$18 to $30 a yard, said Rysa
Pitner, founder of Fabric on
Demand in Los Angeles.
Custom options appeal
to individuals who love to
author their own stuff, she
said.
You can upload photos,
original artwork or com-
puter-generated designs
on her companys website,
Fabricondemand.com.
Some manufacturers have
designers who help custom-
ers develop the look they
want. Do-it-yourself design-
ers can usually preview
the order online or order a
sample piece. It normally
takes less than a month for
orders to be processed. The
websites also have a wide
variety of premade patterns
available.
Nile Johnson of Nile
Johnson Interior Design in
Kennett Square, Pa., said
custom pieces help his frm
accomplish its goal of creat-
ing spaces that refect a cli-
ents personality.
It really helps the inte-
rior show and breathe who
they are, he said. Its
not just pretty. Its not just
functional. It really tells
their story.
Johnson has used the
custom printing process
to create a window shade
depicting a childs favorite
story book. He is currently
creating wallpaper that cor-
responds to a clients check-
ered dishes.
Creating rolls of wallpa-
per for an accent wall or
producing yards of fabric to
make curtains, bedding or
furniture covering allows
homeowners to create
layers of design that con-
tribute to the look they are
after, added Los Angeles
designer Kate Albrecht,
who runs the website
Mrkate.com.
Its a layered look where
they feel like each little
element of a room speaks
about their personality,
she said.
As a designer, you have
this idea for a perfect fabric
in your mind and sometimes
you cant fnd it. Sometimes
that fabric needs to be
created.
CUSTOM LIVING
By melissa dutton
the assoCiated Press
Make a room your own with fabric, wallpaper
AP PHOTO
Sarah Rowland with the wallpaper she designed for Dixie Donuts in Richmond, Va. Owners Betsy Thomas and J Frank asked
Rowland to design a custom wallpaper for an accent wall at the shop located in the trendy Carytown section of Richmond.
Detail of custom wallpaper that Sarah Rowland designed for
Dixie Donuts .
Renee Pedros custom tea towels that she made for her
home in Philadelphia. Pedro has started a business making
household goods with fabrics she designs and orders through
the Internet.




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As the cost of energy con-
tinues to rise, homeowners
everywhere are looking for
ways to cut back on their
usage and exercise energy
effciency in their homes.
Lighting your house is no
minor expense, with recent
data from the U.S. Depart-
ment of Energy showing
that an average household
dedicates 10 percent of its
energy budget to lighting
and spends approximately
$1,900 per year in total on
utility bills.
Remember you can make
a difference and green
your lifestyle with a simple
step that will also save you
money. Changing your tra-
ditional incandescent light
bulbs or CFLs (compact fu-
orescent lamps often recog-
nized by their spiral design)
to LED light bulbs will save
not only energy but also
dollars off your electric-
ity bill. The bulbs feature
longer life spans than tra-
ditional light bulbs, while
still emitting warm tones to
make your home cozy with
illuminating, comfortable
light. And because LED
bulbs consume far fewer
watts to deliver the same
level of brightness as tradi-
tional bulbs, they can save
you money daily by reduc-
ing that lights energy use
by up to 85 percent accord-
ing to the U.S. Department
of Energy.
Making the switch to
LED bulbs in your home is
easier than you think. Qual-
ity LED lighting products
such as the new line of
bulbs from Samsung now
available at retail stores,
offer average life spans
between 15,000 and 40,000
hours depending on the
bulb. This can amount to
an approximate average of
25 times longer than tradi-
tional bulbs.
Samsung is well-recog-
nized in the LED industry
because it has experience
making nearly all of the
components in LED bulbs.
They offer consumers
high-quality, reliable prod-
ucts, an important fact to
consider when investing
in LED light bulbs that
will power your home and
fxture lighting for decades
to come. Both energy and
cost-effective, these bulbs
are the perfect solution
when transitioning from
traditional bulbs to the
highest-quality, affordable
and long-term lighting.
Five Reasons to Switch to
LED Lighting Now:
1. Energy Savings: LED bulbs
use 75 to 85 percent less
energy than incandescent
bulbs, which means savings
for your energy bill and
extra cash in your pocket.
In fact, Samsungs new A19
lamp - a replacement for a
traditional 40-watt screw-in
light bulb - only uses about
$1.20 in electricity over the
course of an entire year.
2. Convenience: Long-
lasting life spans of 22 to 36
years means you will only
have to change the bulbs a
few times in your lifetime
- this means you wont be
bothered to replace a dim-
ming bulb for decades at a
time.
3. Versatility: LEDs come
in all different shapes and
sizes to ft any room or
fxture in your home. The
bulbs create a warm, natu-
ral illuminating light that
set a comfortable ambience
of your choosing inside, and
many can be controlled by
a dimmer to cascade any
amount of light within your
rooms.
4. Save Money: According
to the U.S. Department of
Energy, replacing just 15
bulbs in your home with
more energy effcient ver-
sions can save an average
of $50 off your energy bill
annually - or up to $1,800
on your energy bill over the
course of your LED bulbs
lifetime.
5. Instant Lighting: Instead
of waiting seconds or min-
utes for your lights to reach
full brightness, LED lamps
light up immediately to full
brightness to illuminate
your space.
Simple ways to save
Family Features
Changing your traditional incandescent light bulbs to LED
light bulbs will save not only energy but also dollars off your
electricity bill.
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Its patio season. Light up the night!
Make every minute of the outdoor season count by illuminating your
decks, docks, and walkways with gorgeous and eco-friendly fxtures
from Newburyport Lighting ... Classic designs and contemporary lines
... Stylish solutions for every decor ... Plus shades, repair, and
installation advice.
Newburyport Lighting
company
Conveniently located on the Newburyport waterfront
38R Merrimac Street 9 7 8 . 4 9 9. 9 7 7 7
Open Tues-Fri 10am-5pm
Sat. 10am-3pm & By Appt.
newburyportlighting.com




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Has spring sprung yet? Well, it
is coming soon, anyway, and that
means spring cleaning.
It always seems exciting to get
things started, then part way
through the cleaning the excite-
ment fades and the reality of the
work sets in, but the fnished
result always makes all the labor
worthwhile. But what really
needs sprucing up -- and what can
wait another year?
Lets check it out.
Is it time to replace some older,
dilapidating things with newer
and more effcient things?Lets
start with the roof.
Climb up a ladder (be careful!)
or get binoculars and go across
the street to view your roof. Are
there missing or broken tiles or
shingles? Replacing the roof is
expensive, but not as expensive
as replacing many more things
in your house if the roof leaks or
there is a storm that rips off some
of the roofng. Some roofng prod-
ucts come with an insurance dis-
count. For example, if you live on
the West Coast and you replace
a cedar roof with a fre-resistant
roof, you probably will be able
to get a homeowners-insurance
discount.
How about the windows?
If you see condensation
between the glass panes or your
windows are hard to open or
close, your energy bills are going
to be higher than they should be.
It might be time to replace the
windows. OK, so this is another
expensive endeavor, but worth
the price in the long run.
The front door should be in
good and attractive condition.
When you are inside the house
looking at the closed front door,
do you see light peaking in
around the door? Do you feel a
cold draft coming in when you
stand close to the door? Is the
door hard to close or lock? Its
time for a new door if the answer
is yes to any of these questions.
Again, your energy bill will be
a bit more palatable if you have
a well-sealed front door. And a
nice and clean front door makes
your home more inviting and
attractive.
How are the foors? Is it time
for new carpet?
Sometimes replacing the carpet
in the most-used room is all you
need. Carpeting isnt cheap, so a
thought might be to replace the
most-used rooms carpet frst
with the plan of replacing other
rooms in a year or so. If you have
wood, tile or marble fooring, get-
ting a professional company to
refurbish is a good idea.
Sometimes furniture needs to
be reupholstered, other times
buying new is better.
Reupholstering is a good
choice if the furniture you have
is of good quality, you like it
very much and it is comfortable.
But buying new is another good
choice, too, because reupholster-
ing can be as expensive as buying
new. Weigh the difference and
decide: new or reupholstered.
Appliances are another spring-
cleaning issue.
Energy-saving appliances are
available everywhere, so evaluate
what you have and replace any
ineffcient appliances you own
with new energy-effcient models.
(Rosemary Sadez Friedmann,
an interior designer in Naples,
Fla., is author of Mystery of
Color. For design inquiries, write
to Rosemary at DsgnQuest@aol.
com.)
Spring cleaning with all the fixins
By rosemary sadez Friedmann
SCRIPPS HOwARD
NEwS SERVICE
It always seems exciting to get things started, then part way through
the cleaning the excitement fades and the reality of the work sets in.
Prioritizing is key to not taking on too much.
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If trash tends to
accumulate in the fam-
ily room, adding a
wastebasket might cut
down on clutter. If you
know food will be thrown
away here, get one with a
lid and some deodorizing
trash bags.
Papers, books, bro-
chures and magazines
tend to accumulate on
fat surfaces all around
the house, and the fam-
ily room is no different.
Make a quick sweep of
all fat surfaces by piling
papers in a bin, then sort-
ing and purging as nec-
essary. Take a vow, and
get your family to follow
it, to put papers in fles
rather than on the coffee
table.
Until the world goes
wireless, well forever
be stuck with tangled
cables behind our enter-
tainment centers. Fortu-
nately, there are several
options for taming cords
in the family room. The
most attractive is the
slim Cableyoyo. It neatly
coils up to 6 feet of cord
and comes with an adhe-
sive backing that sticks
onto nearly any surface.
A cable caddy usually
sticks onto a desktop
(or behind the TV con-
sole) and has a space for
several cables to clamp
into. Your cords will still
dangle freely, however,
so a cable zipper, which
encloses all the cables in
a tube, might be the best
bet.
If toys are taking
over your family room,
its time to put them in
timeout. Unused corners
of a family room trans-
form into great play areas
because the walls serve
to block encroaching
clutter.
Coffee tables that look
great but dont have any
storage for magazines,
remote controls or even
drink coasters are prob-
ably making life more
diffcult. If you dont have
the budget for a new one,
consider adding low stor-
age cubes, rolling baskets
or bins to stick under the
table.
Multimedia like DVDs,
videotapes and CDs are
staples of the family
room. Take 30 minutes to
begin sorting your entire
collection, making two
piles: one for keeping and
one for selling back or
donating.
Courtesy Caren Bagin-
ski on hgtv.com
sCriPPs howard
news serviCe
Tips for keeping the living room more presentable
Your living room can look, well, unlived in, when you
implement some organizational tips.




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FAMILY OWNED SINCE 1976
RONALD MCDONALD
HOUSE CHARITIES
From April 2 to May 25, 2013
Rebate on
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See store for details.
Ask friends how many emails
they have sitting in their inbox
or how many photos are saved
to their laptop, and dont be sur-
prised if the numbers tally in the
thousands.
Some of us have a diffcult
time knowing how to organize
all of this digital information,
from emails and documents to
uploaded photos and downloaded
songs. We hoard because we can:
Todays computer memory can
handle it, and our email providers
offer seemingly infnite storage
space.
Take Peggy Stempson, associ-
ate pastor at Pierre First United
Methodist Church in Pierre, S.D.,
who hangs onto at least 4,000
emails, many of them part of long
conversations with friends going
back fve years or more.
They spark memories, and
connect me with people and help
me contact them, says Stempson,
30. Its kind of like a diary.
All of this digital detritus is not
a problem unless it interferes
with your life, work or happi-
ness, according to Tim Kasser, a
psychology professor at Knox Col-
lege, in Galesburg, Ill.
If this acquisition of e stuff
ends up leading to a lifestyle that
forces you to have less time for
your family, or less time to draw
or play music or run around in a
park, or less time to be involved
in your community, then I would
say that to me is a problem, says
Kasser. I can see how that hap-
pens with electronic stuff.
Thank goodness there are
experts to help extend spring
cleaning to the digital realm.
Start the de-cluttering process
slowly, advises Danielle Claro,
editor-at-large at Real Simple
magazine.
If youre intimidated by it, you
need someone to hold your hand
either a friend or a teenager,
she says, noting that shed prob-
ably enlist her own teen.
Allison Carter of Atlanta gets
paid to help people fnd their way
through the digital morass. She
helps clients streamline emails,
organize fnances, manage docu-
ments and photos, and back it all
up.
The digital world, its about
fnding things, making your life
more effcient, enjoying things,
rather than having them only
live in the darkness of your
hard drive, says Carter, whose
business is called Digital Life
Organizing.
Controlling the email torrent
is often the most daunting chal-
lenge, she says.
I like my active to-dos and
ongoing projects to be in my
inbox until Ive tackled them,
says Carter, but thats all that
should be there.
For important emails, she
recommends setting up action
reminders, and recommends
Googles free online calendar.
Others include Zoho Calendar
and the Cozi Family Organizer,
which also are free.
Gmail users can retrieve
unread emails by typing
is:unread into the search feld,
then delete ignored emails in
large chunks. Thats a favorite
Claro tip.
It was a great, great feeling.
It was like doing a juice fast or
something, she says.
Carter likes the app Remem-
ber the Milk for managing
tasks online. Manage your fam-
ilys activities via Cozi. Or link
everything email, calendars,
reminders and more with a
system that pulls all of your work
and home life activities into one
online site, such as at IQTELL.
Thats the wave thats coming
next, says Carter. Youre going
to have a place to have it all in
one spot.
And that one spot? Well, its not
on your computer. Rather, its on
a remote public server whats
referred to as the cloud.
Two free, cloud-based sites that
may help unclog your inbox and
desktop are Springpad and Ever-
note, says Carter. Users can store
notes, recipes, photos, newspaper
articles even snapshots of web
pages.
Bookmarks are outdated,
says Carter.
Keep track of important docu-
ments at File This, and receive
notifcations of bills and auto-
matically pay them reducing
emails, she says.
Shawn Whyte, an information
technology consultant in Helena,
Mont., recently moved thousands
of documents, songs, books and
photos from six old computers
and personal laptops to a newer
one with monster memory (2 TB,
or terabytes).
Her favorite tip? If youre a
Google gmail user, view and man-
age your emails through Micro-
soft Outlook. If you have other
email accounts, they all can be
viewed via Outlook. Its a time-
saver, says Whyte.
You can sort and move 200
emails at once, she says. I
sorted and deleted 5,000 emails in
3 hours.
Google it, says Whyte, to fnd
out how to confgure an Outlook
gmail account. An alternative is
Mozillas Thunderbird.
Some photo-saving tips: Get a
program, such as Snapfsh, Shut-
terfy, Googles Picasa or others,
to edit, store and share your
photos, says Carter. Use Linea
to organize your images fast.
Use the app Lost Photos to dig
up images forgotten in long-ago
emails.
Dont get hung up on being
perfect or being orderly, says
Carter. They dont even have to
be in time order to enjoy them.
Its fun to have them mixed up:
You can see how people change.
Finally, says Carter, you have
to back up your computer to
protect all those emails, photos
and documents from suddenly
disappearing. She likes Crash-
Plan, Carbonite and Mozy, which
are online, cloud-storing, backup
services.
Having things in the cloud is
really going to change things in
the next generation, says Carter.
Older folks, were not used to it.
Were leery of it.
Your information in the cloud
can be encrypted, says Whyte,
and only you can see it.
Its good to be concerned about
privacy, but not so much that it
hinders you, she says. There
are reputable companies out
there that are good at this.
OPERATION DIGITAL DE-CLUTTER
JenniFer ForKer
the assoCiated Press
Many options available for organizing computer-based files
Q: My husband and I are plan-
ning to remodel our bathroom
by changing all the fxtures,
but basically were leaving the
existing foor plan the same.
My question is about choosing
the new bathtub. Do they make
heated bathtubs? I enjoy tak-
ing long baths, but do not like
to keep adding hot water to the
tub. We would need this tub to ft
our existing space and we plan
to install a tile-wall enclosure.
Is this possible to have all these
features in one tub? -- Jean, Ohio
A: Not only should that be
possible, you should also be
able to add another feature
to your list. But, Ill save
that surprise for last.
First, lets talk about the
heating question. Yes, new-
style bathtubs should be
available in your area with
heated surface options. You
will need to check your
local codes and work with
a licensed electrician and
plumber to have this type
of tub installed, since it
does have a built-in heating
element.
When soaking in the
tub, the heated surface can
warm your back and neck
with adjustable tempera-
ture settings. These tubs
are usually made from
acrylic materials and are
available in different styles
and sizes, along with differ-
ent installation features.
For instance, in your case,
you would want a tub with
a built in tile fange so
you can use wall tiles for
the tub enclosure. Some
heated tubs are even avail-
able with a curved apron
feature that will ft the
space of a standard tub, but
will give you a little more
soaking area.
When you add up all
these features, I bet that
a lot of people reading
this will warm up to the
idea of installing a heated
bathtub!
(Master plumber Ed Del
Grande is the author of
Ed Del Grandes House
Call, the host of TV and
Internet shows, and a
LEED green associate. Visit
eddelgrande.com or email
eadelg@cs.com. Always
consult local contractors
and codes.)
By ed del Grande
SCRIPPS HOwARD
New bathtubs have heated surface options
AP PHOTO
Allison Carter of Atlanta helps
clients get a handle on their
digital clutter. Her company is
called Digital Life Organizing. Find
her online at The Professional
Organizer.
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Robert Bentley, Newburyport
By: Sarah Ashley Durrell
The real estate market has always been competitive, but its never been clearer which real estate agent has the most competitive edge
Robert Bentley of Newburyport.
Finishing his second year in a row as the number one agent in the greater Newburyport area, both in the number of homes sold and total
sales fgures, hes on his way to a record-setting third year on top.
Timing is everything in real estate,says Bentley.I entered the business during a time when most real estate agents were getting out.
Instead of panicking, I saw it as an opportunity; I devised a marketing strategy and really pushed my way in.
Bentley, who has a background in marketing, had previously owned a marketing company for restaurants with 146 clients inVirginia Beach.
When he came back to his roots in Massachusetts, he began selling homes throughout the North Shore and southern New Hampshire, but
soon decided to hone in on greater Newburyport.
Newburyport is where I live and where I work,he explains.I knew that I would eventually target just one market, and it seemed the
greater Newburyport area was the logical place to do that.
Once his market area was cut down to size, he quickly capitalized on his professional ingenuity and began building a strong online
presence.
I purchased Newburyport.com as a way to focus my marketing and advertising,he says.People want to know what kind of lifestyle they
can expect when they move to a new community, and Newburyport.com is great way to share that information with people.
The website, run by web design company Sonora DesignWorks, provides residents and visitors with local business information, videos, and
the VIP program, which provides privileges at over 160 local restaurants and shops.The frst two of many live webcams were launched in
March to show website visitors whats happening in Market Square in downtown Newburyport as it happens in real-time.
Bentley also recently purchased WestNewbury.com, hoping to bring his talent for real estate and community development to another great
town.
Buying or selling a house is a huge commitment and I want people to know where they can go to fnd someone who has the knowledge
and expertise,he says. Bentley lists and sells one house per week, and being practiced is his best asset. In 2012 he sold a total of 62 homes
and just three months into 2013 hes sold 30.
Finding a real estate agent is similar to developing a business partnership,he notes.Its important for consumers to know who is a
performing agent who is practiced as that is the fundamental principle to success we all demand for our most important decisions.
With a strong track record and the numbers to back him up, Robert Bentley is the ideal agent to help guide you through the process of
selling or buying a home in the greater Newburyport area. For more information call 781-858-5115 or visit www.Newburyport.com and
click onVIP home search.
BOX INFORMATION:
Robert Bentley
11 Market Sq., Newburyport
781-858-5115
RobertBentley@Newburyport.com
www.Newburyport.com
www.Facebook.com/NewburyportVIP
www.Twitter.com/newburyport_com
Thinking of Selling Your Home?
As the owner of Newburyport.com and the #1 Agent in Greater Newburyport
I am uniquely positioned to sell your home fast, 62 sales in 2012 and 30 sales
already in 2013!
Call 781.858.5115 today to list your home for sale.
RE/MAX On the River | 978.499.8808
#1 Locally and Globally
Call Greater Newburyports #1 Agent
Today 781.858.5115!
RobertBentley@Newburyport.com

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With a strong track record and the numbers to back him up, Robert Bentley is the ideal agent to help guide you through the process of
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Robert Bentley, Newburyport
By: Sarah Ashley Durrell
The real estate market has always been competitive, but its never been clearer which real estate agent has the most competitive edge
Robert Bentley of Newburyport.
Finishing his second year in a row as the number one agent in the greater Newburyport area, both in the number of homes sold and total
sales fgures, hes on his way to a record-setting third year on top.
Timing is everything in real estate,says Bentley.I entered the business during a time when most real estate agents were getting out.
Instead of panicking, I saw it as an opportunity; I devised a marketing strategy and really pushed my way in.
Bentley, who has a background in marketing, had previously owned a marketing company for restaurants with 146 clients inVirginia Beach.
When he came back to his roots in Massachusetts, he began selling homes throughout the North Shore and southern New Hampshire, but
soon decided to hone in on greater Newburyport.
Newburyport is where I live and where I work,he explains.I knew that I would eventually target just one market, and it seemed the
greater Newburyport area was the logical place to do that.
Once his market area was cut down to size, he quickly capitalized on his professional ingenuity and began building a strong online
presence.
I purchased Newburyport.com as a way to focus my marketing and advertising,he says.People want to know what kind of lifestyle they
can expect when they move to a new community, and Newburyport.com is great way to share that information with people.
The website, run by web design company Sonora DesignWorks, provides residents and visitors with local business information, videos, and
the VIP program, which provides privileges at over 160 local restaurants and shops.The frst two of many live webcams were launched in
March to show website visitors whats happening in Market Square in downtown Newburyport as it happens in real-time.
Bentley also recently purchased WestNewbury.com, hoping to bring his talent for real estate and community development to another great
town.
Buying or selling a house is a huge commitment and I want people to know where they can go to fnd someone who has the knowledge
and expertise,he says. Bentley lists and sells one house per week, and being practiced is his best asset. In 2012 he sold a total of 62 homes
and just three months into 2013 hes sold 30.
Finding a real estate agent is similar to developing a business partnership,he notes.Its important for consumers to know who is a
performing agent who is practiced as that is the fundamental principle to success we all demand for our most important decisions.
With a strong track record and the numbers to back him up, Robert Bentley is the ideal agent to help guide you through the process of
selling or buying a home in the greater Newburyport area. For more information call 781-858-5115 or visit www.Newburyport.com and
click onVIP home search.
BOX INFORMATION:
Robert Bentley
11 Market Sq., Newburyport
781-858-5115
RobertBentley@Newburyport.com
www.Newburyport.com
www.Facebook.com/NewburyportVIP
www.Twitter.com/newburyport_com
Thinking of Selling Your Home?
As the owner of Newburyport.com and the #1 Agent in Greater Newburyport
I am uniquely positioned to sell your home fast, 62 sales in 2012 and 30 sales
already in 2013!
Call 781.858.5115 today to list your home for sale.
RE/MAX On the River | 978.499.8808
#1 Locally and Globally
Call Greater Newburyports #1 Agent
Today 781.858.5115!
RobertBentley@Newburyport.com

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1
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+
R
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u
ra
n
ts
a
n
d
S
h
op
s!
With a strong track record and the numbers to back him up, Robert Bentley is the ideal agent to help guide you through the process of
selling or buying a home in the greater Newburyport area. For more information call 781-858-5115 or visit www.Newburyport.com and
Many Americans have
embraced outdoor decorat-
ing, flling their yards with
fuffy sofas, gleaming end
tables and even outdoor rugs.
But what happens when
the sun goes down?
Chris Lambton, landscape
designer and host of HGTVs
Going Yard, advises his cli-
ents to give as much thought
to the lighting of their out-
door space as they do to the
furnishings.
Forget yesterdays glar-
ing porch light, he says.
You can now choose from a
wide range of much subtler
lighting options. Many are
inexpensive and stylish
enough to quickly turn
a basic patio into a chic
entertaining space.
Here Lambton and two
other outdoor decorating
experts Los Angeles-based
designers Jeff Andrews and
Brian Patrick Flynn offer
advice on the newest, most
attractive and safest options
for outdoor lighting.
INDULGE YOUR
INDOOR STYLE
Many indoor furniture
designs and fabrics are now
available as outdoor items,
Lambton says, and the same
goes for lighting. Companies
are creating outdoor ver-
sions of their most popular
indoor lamps and fxtures.
Flynn is a fan of outdoor
chandeliers on patios or
decks that are covered:
Theyre an excellent way
to make any humdrum
outdoor space feel like an
actual room.
But, he says, choose
wisely: To get them right,
youve got to take scale and
proportion into consider-
ation. Install one thats too
small, and it will look like
an afterthought. Install one
thats too big or hangs too
low, and it will completely
overwhelm the space.
Flynn also recommends
using foor lamps and table
lamps designed for outdoor
use. Prices vary widely
(from more than $1,000 to
less than $100), so he sug-
gests hunting online for
deals and the perfect style.
Another option: Create
your own outdoor fxture.
Many electricians can
rewire your favorite indoor
lighting to be safely used
outside, Lambton says.
Search for whatever fxture
you like, he says, then put
an outdoor conduit in and
attach it to a switch.
GO VINTAGE
Vintage is always a key
to good lighting, Andrews
says, indoors and outdoors.
Recently I got these really
cool, inexpensive Moroccan
lanterns with a vintage look.
Rather than simply display-
ing them on a table, he hung
them from outdoor branches.
I had them wired for out-
side and hid the wires in the
trees, he explains.
When the vintage lan-
terns glow from the tree
branches at night, it gives
the yard a romantic and
kind of European feel.
FORGET THE
FLOOD LIGHT
Rather than one or two
bright porch lights, all
three designers suggest
using a variety of softer
lights.
Lambton has used faux
stone blocks with LED
lights hidden inside, along-
side traditional lighting.
Flynn has done the same
with illuminated planters.
Sneaking in ambient
light in unexpected ways
is something I love to do,
Flynn says. In Los Ange-
les, I turned the middle of a
familys Los Feliz backyard
into a full-fedged family
room, comfy sectional sofa
and all. To bring light to
the space, I used modern,
plastic planters that light
up. They have cords on
the back of them, and con-
nect to exterior outlets.
Once turned on, a light
bulb inside the transparent
plastic illuminates and the
entire area glows softly.
This is so genius because
it requires no electrician
whatsoever.
Even simpler options:
thin strips of lights that
can be attached along the
underside of deck rail-
ings, or strands of lights
in the shape of everything
from simple bulbs to stars,
hearts or jalapeno peppers
strung overhead.
No matter which style of
light you choose, Andrews
says, add dimmers to your
outdoor light switches.
Everything in the world,
he says, needs to be on a
dimmer.
GO BEYOND YOUR
DECK OR PATIO
Dont forget to light the
far reaches of your yard,
Lambton says. It will make
your property feel bigger
and banish the feeling of
being enveloped by dark-
ness when you entertain
outside.
It costs little to place a
few small, solar-powered
lights at the bases of trees
and shrubs. He also sug-
gests attaching a few to
tree branches. And I love
to uplight ornamental
grasses, Lambton says.
It adds nice depth to the
yard.
DONT FORGET THE FIRE
Fire pits of all sizes
from huge outdoor fre-
places to small tabletop
containers provide
golden, fickering light for
your outdoor space.
Display a collection of pil-
lar candles in varying sizes
(battery-powered or real),
either clustered on their
own or tucked inside large,
glass lanterns to add a bit
of sparkle to your yard,
Andrews says.
Or create an outdoor
chandelier with candles: I
tend to try my hand at rustic
do-it-yourself ideas, Flynn
says. In my own outdoor
dining room, I suspended
a candelabra made from
reclaimed pine planks, rope,
mason jars and tea lights
above the dining table.
When my family comes over
for pizza night, it creates the
perfect ambience.
COMBINE SAFETY
AND BEAUTY
Home improvement stores
and websites offer a huge
array of options for lighting
outdoor pathways and deck
stairs, adding beauty while
making your space safer.
And what about the
safety of leaving lighting
out in all weather? If its
outdoor-rated, Andrews
says, it should be fne. But
keep your climate in mind.
Flynn prefers not to leave
most lighting sources out
year-round unless an outdoor
space is covered, he says.
The only type of lighting
Im worry-free about for the
outdoors is festival-style string
lights. Theyre pretty much
the same thing as holiday
twinkle lights. My favorite
styles are strands with mini-
lanterns; they really help light
the perimeter of a space.
ILLUMINATING ADVICE
By melissa rayworth
the assoCiated Press
Expert sheds light on
outdoor options
AP PHOTO
Furniture in this outdoor living room was designed by Brian Patrick Flynn for Hayneedle.com. It is arranged around an outdoor
chandelier. Flynn often uses outdoor chandeliers in covered outdoor spaces to give exterior spaces the look and feel of a
homey, indoor room.




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As the time nears for
spring cleaning and
companies offer more
environmentally friendly
alternatives to toxic clean-
ers, veterinarians say pet
owners should keep in
mind that whats green to a
human can be dangerous
even deadly to animals.
People expose their
animals without even real-
izing the risk, said Dr.
Karl Jandrey, who works in
the emergency and critical
care units at the Veterinary
Medical Teaching Hospital
at the University of Cali-
fornia, Davis. Thats the
most common thing that
happens when you come to
our emergency room the
clients put their pets at risk
because they were unaware
of how signifcant the dam-
age could be.
Most household cleaners
are safe if used as directed
on labels, but pet own-
ers who make their own
cleansers using natural
ingredients dont have the
warnings or instructions
that come with commercial
products.
Cats, for example, can get
stomachaches from essen-
tial oils added for orange,
lemon or peppermint scents
in cleaners, said Dr. Camille
DeClementi, a senior
toxicologist at the Animal
Poison Control Center run
by the American Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals in Urbana, Ill.
Most commercial green
products are safe for ani-
mals, DeClementi said, but
owners should still exercise
the same precautions as
with chemical alternatives,
such as keeping pets away
from an area being cleaned,
not using sprays directly
on a pet and making sure
that dogs dont chew on the
products.
If a product says Keep
out of reach of children,
keep it away from pets too,
DeClementi said.
Caroline Golon, an Ohio
mother of two children
under 5 and owner of two
Persian cats, said she
became concerned about
cleaning products before
her children were born,
when she noticed how often
the cats jumped between
foors and counters. The
Columbus resident uses
only unscented green prod-
ucts or vinegar and water
to clean, a water-only steam
mop on foors and washes
the cats dishes and litter
boxes with hot water and
green dish soap.
There are varying
degrees of green, and there
are a lot of mainstream
brands now that have a
green version. You have to
do a little research to see
what you like best, said
Golon, a pet blogger.
The green label on
products can be mislead-
ing because it still can be
dangerous, Jandrey added.
Some still have their own
toxicities. In general, they
probably are a little less
toxic, but not free of toxic
potential. They just have
a need for a larger dose
to cause the same kind of
symptoms, he said.
He cited antifreeze as an
example. The pet-friendly
version of antifreeze,
propylene glycol, is still an
antifreeze product. Its still
intoxicating to patients, our
dogs and cats. Its just not
as intoxicating as ethylene
glycol.
It takes more of the
propylene glycol to be as
deadly as the ethylene
glycol, but it is still intoxi-
cating though it might say
pet-friendly in the ads or on
the bottle, Jandrey said.
Labels cant always
account for every reaction,
Jandrey said. Each intoxi-
cating product has different
concentrations and each
dog or cat, each species, has
a different sensitivity to
that product. So what might
be intoxicating to a dog is
really, really intoxicating to
a cat because cats might be
more sensitive, he said.
Nancy Guberti, a New
York City nutritionist and
healthy lifestyle coach for
the past 15 years, said some
products will say green
when they are not.
Natural means noth-
ing. The consumer has to
be educated. Its all about
awareness, she said.
Extra care also should
be taken when cleaning
around a pets area, such
as its toys or bedding, the
experts say. Dont use fabric
softener sheets that contain
cationic detergents because
they will give your pet
especially cats stomach
distress, DeClementi said,
referring to a type of chemi-
cal soap that kills bacteria.
Such detergents and
soaps, normally associated
with helping to get clothes
clean and fresh-smelling,
can have chemicals that can
sicken humans and pets
alike.
Guberti switched to green
cleaners out of necessity
when her youngest son
developed a liver disorder
and many allergies. Guberti
said the whole family
became green even their
familys 6-year-old Shih
Tzu, Flower, because her
son cant hold Flower if
she is full of toxic chemicals
or perfumes.
She recalled how she took
the dog to a groomer for
the frst time, and Flower
came out covered in per-
fume. Guberti washed her
again at home, and now she
brings her own bottles to
the groomer.
I have a bottle of
shampoo and a bottle of
conditioner with her name
on it. I always remind them:
No perfumes whatsoever,
Guberti said.
Golon, who uses a maid
service once a month, said
she had the same problem
when they brought their
own products when they
frst started cleaning the
house.
I hadnt thought about it
but the smell was so over-
powering, it really bothered
me. I can just imagine what
it was doing to the cats with
their sensitivity to scents,
she said.
Green cleaning for humans can still sicken pets
By sue manninG
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nancy Guberti is seen with her dog Flower at her house in New York City. Guberti is a
nutritionist and healthy lifestyle coach, so her family, including a 6-year-old Shih Tzu named
Flower, has gone green.
Caroline Golon of Columbus, Ohio, with her two Persian cats,
Romeo, 9, and Pugsley, 8, right. She started thinking about
cleaning products before the kids were born when she noticed
how often the cats jumped between foors and counters. She
read about green, organic and natural cleaners. Today, she
uses only unscented green products or vinegar and water. She
uses a water-only steam mop on foors and washes the cats
dishes and litter boxes with hot water and green dish soap.




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When it comes to adding tech-
nology to your home, the bed-
room might not be the frst place
you would consider. But the real-
ity is that high tech is becoming
an integral part of every living
space including the bedroom.
High-tech is here to stay, said
Emily Henderson, HGTV Design
Star winner and designer on
Secrets from a Stylist on HGTV.
Technology can make your life
easier in so many ways. And with
so much activity centered in the
master suite, it makes sense to
add useful tech devices into that
living space, too.
Here are a few of Hendersons
favorite ways to modernize the
master bedroom in style:
Bed control
It shouldnt take a lot of work to
get comfortable enough to relax,
said Henderson. Traditional beds
only have one position, and thats
not going to be a good ft for every-
one or every activity. Thats why
I love Leggett & Platts adjustable
bed bases. With a wireless remote
I can easily change my position to
be comfortable no matter what Im
doing.
Henderson says that todays
adjustable base beds are not only
more functional than old models,
but theyre more attractive, too.
You can fnd a style to ft your
room and a model that offers the
level of technology that youre
comfortable with, she said.
For example, the Leggett &
Platt Designer Series has intui-
tive digital remotes that let you
adjust both the head and the foot
of your mattress so you can fnd
exactly the right position. They
even have a massage feature for
a little stylish pampering and a
bed skirt option for a more tradi-
tional look.
Motorized window
treatment control
Its such a luxury to be able
to lie in bed and use a remote to
open your curtains or shades in
the morning, said Henderson. I
think it offcially means you are a
grown up, but in a good way.
Henderson recommends that
you get shades or curtains that
have blackout lining, and ideally
two settings one for privacy
and light control, which would be
lighter and thinner, and one with
the blackout lining for that per-
fect dark room that you can sleep
in. Blackout curtains also muffe
outside noise. Im a big fan of The
Shade Store motorized window
treatments, which are all custom
made. They are super high quality
so less likely to break down and
are still very attractive.
You can fnd motorized shades
or shutters with a timer, which
lets you program them to open
and close whenever you like. Some
have wall switches, while others
have a remote control so you can
operate them from anywhere.
Remote control TV mount
Wall mounting your TV isnt
anything new, but being able to
lie in bed and control the exact
placement (right, left, tilt up,
tilt down) is a total luxury, said
Henderson. Many companies
are starting to do this so you
dont have to have the TV across
from your bed, instead you can
put it on a side wall and have the
long extendable arm bring the
TV to you by remote.
Make sure that your wall
mount is compatible with your
television.
Check the weight rating on the
mounts and brackets to make
sure they can support your TV.
Some mounts have different
shapes to ft different screen
sizes. Check the specifcation on
the packaging to be sure.
Hide ugly cables with a cord
concealer. You can fnd low-
profle paintable fat screen cord
cover kits at your local home
improvement stores. Paint them
to match your wall and theyll
blend right in.
THE MODERN MASTER
Family Features
news serviCe
Technology is a must-have for a beautiful and stylish bedroom suite
Technological advancements bring convenience and comfort to new levels.
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Gutter Cleaning Retaining Walls
& Stone Work
Fence Repair
& Installation
Tree Removal
Tree Trimming
Stump Grinding
& Removal
Fully Insured
Every Other Week Mowing
Weekly Mowing
Spring and Fall Clean-Ups
Services Offered
Professional Mowing Services
& Property Maintenance
DENIS CURTIS
OWNER T
R
E
E W
O
R
K
277 ELM ST.

AMESBURY, MA 01913

Fully Insured
978.388.3377
For many gardening enthu-
siasts, this time around late
winter and early spring requires
a lot of self-control. Weve been
cooped up for months, unable
to get our hands in the dirt,
while attempting to appease our
earthly desires through garden-
ing catalogs, flower shows and
plenty of daydreaming. By now,
weve just about had it with
ideas, and its time to put them
into action. But for many, those
moments are short-lived. Before
we can garner any real momen-
tum, Mother Nature reminds us
that shes still in control by fol-
lowing up those warm weather
samplings with cold snaps in
quick succession.
With self-restraint made pos-
sible only through years of feel-
ing the painful consequences
of my impulsive desire to beat
the system, I wait a little longer.
So whats in store for my gar-
den this season? With a new,
fve-acre property before me,
I am giddy with anticipation.
Our frost-free date is still over a
month away, but there is plenty
to do before then and even more
beyond that.
For now, its all about the site
prep, as it should be for any gar-
dener or weekend warrior who
desires to create the best envi-
ronment for long-term success.
As long as the ground isnt fro-
zen or saturated, its the perfect
time to cultivate and clean up.
Preparation of the planting beds
and future lawn area reigns
supreme for this property over
the next few weeks. Weeding,
contouring and a generous layer
of topsoil worked lightly into the
earth should serve my future
plants and seedbed well. For the
beds waiting to receive plants,
Ill top them off with several
inches of mulch, as a green way
to suppress weeds and prevent
otherwise exposed soil from
crusting over. Once my plants
are in the ground, that same
mulch will suppress certain
plant diseases, keep roots cool
and retain vital moisture in the
soil.
As much as I enjoy every-
thing to do with preparing the
site and planting beds, the real
fun begins in a couple weeks
as I finally build the vegetable
garden Ive dreamed about for
years. I have a large plot of land
that basks in the light of full sun
all day. It is just asking to have
a big garden on this spot, and I
shall oblige. It will be a glorious
garden, full of deep and wide
raised beds. If ever there were a
made for TV garden, this is it,
since that is actually one of the
main reasons for having such a
garden here-- that and the fact
that I love a big, beautiful veg-
etable garden.
No matter what youre grow-
ing, I think one of the best parts
of spring comes when you put
those new plants into the gar-
den for the first time. Truth be
told, I likely wont wait to plant
my new beds until after the
last risk of frost has passed (do
as I say, not as I do). The seed-
lings Ive started indoors are
abundant and plentiful. Should
my early crop of planted seed-
lings prove to be premature,
my backup supply will come in
handy. Seeds are cheap and its
always nice to have more than
you need just in case or, even
better, to share with others.
As you can see, I have plenty
to do before the real gardening
begins. Sharing future plans
as well as past experiences
between gardeners is part of
the fun, and its one more way
we can all become better gar-
deners. Ill keep you posted on
my progress this spring and
beyond.
Firm up garden plans for the new season
By Joe lamPl
SCRIPPS HOwARD NEwS SERVICE
SHNS photo
A season of gardening opportunity awaits.




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83 Haverhill Rd. (Rte. 110), Amesbury, MA 978-388-2585
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The do-it-yourself move-
ment in home improvement
continually grows stronger
as a way for people to update
their homes while saving
money. If youre one of those
DIYers ready to get to work,
you need to make sure you
have the right tools for the
job, no matter what that job
is.
Painting Prep
Repainting a room is a
quick, inexpensive home
project that can make a dra-
matic difference.
Its important to make
repairs and clean and prime
the walls before applying
that frst coat. Pre-gummed
fberglass repair tapes
and premixed patching
compounds allow you patch
and paint in the same day.
For an older home, wash
walls with a trisodium phos-
phate solution and a sponge.
Traditional brushes and
rollers are tried and true,
but the newest technological
innovation on the market can
speed up the process, such as
a cordless paint sprayer.
Organizing Your Life
Closet and garage organi-
zation systems increase the
amount of usable storage
space by using vertical space.
For working in tight
spaces, a right-angle drill can
be useful. The use of power
tools with lithium-ion batter-
ies, as opposed to traditional
ni-cad batteries, can make
the job easier the tools are
lighter, the batteries last four
times longer, and the charge
doesnt fade so you have
power for the entire job.
Cabinet Facelift
By updating cabinet doors
and replacing or installing
drawer pulls and other hard-
ware, you can change the
look of your kitchen without
the time and expense of a
complete remodel. Try using
a cordless drill kit to spruce
up your kitchen with ease.
Renewing the Deck
Old paint and stain should
be scraped off the wood,
and then the wood should
be sanded. A stiff-bristle
brush should be used to
remove any faking stain or
dirt. For pressure-treated
decks, an orbital sander can
smooth out rough areas on
deck boards, railings or stair
treads.
Before cleaning and refn-
ishing a deck, you need to
check posts, supports and
decking for loose, weak or
damaged areas, then replace
or repair as needed. To han-
dle long or large screws and
bolts, an impact driver.
Project Clean Up
For small post-project
clean ups, keep household
wipes handy - not only can
you clean up any spills or
smudges you made, you can
clean up your hands, too.
For bigger jobs, a wet/dry
vacuum can do wonders. It
can do all the traditional
things a regular vacuum
can, while also getting into
hard-to-reach areas and
cleaning spills and liquids.
TOOLBOX CHECKBOX
FAMILY FEATURES
NEwS SERVICE
Stock up to tackle most any home project
Before you start a do-it-yourself project, be sure you
have all the tools you need.
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978-378-4340
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When it comes to get-
ting the house clean and
tidy, closets often get left
off the to-do list. From hall
closets and linen closets
to bedroom closets, out of
sight, out of mind thinking
quickly leads to clutter
and then frustration when
you cant fnd what you
need when you need it.
But a little planning and
a few simple tips can help
you get your closets in
user-friendly shape in no
time.
Put your closets on your
calendar. Take stock of your
schedule and commit some
time to tackle your closets.
Set realistic expectations
you dont have to conquer
all your closets at once. It
may make sense for your
family to forego TV one
evening a week and focus
on one closet at a time, for
example.
Start by sorting
If you havent worn a
piece of clothing in the past
year or you cant remem-
ber the last time you wore
something then you dont
need it. Other items to purge
from your closet: childrens
clothes and shoes that are
either too small or too worn
out to pass down to a sibling
or a friend.
Sort your remaining clothes
by season and then into
piles to keep or pass down.
If you have limited closet
space, keep only the current
seasons wardrobe in your
closet. Carefully pack and
store the rest for later.
Linen closets stay more
organized when you
stack similar sized items
together. Sort sheets by
size, and group washcloths,
hand towels and bath tow-
els together.
For closets that hold
everything from the vacuum
cleaner to art supplies and
anything in between, work
one shelf at a time. Sort items
by categories and dedicate
one shelf or area of the closet
to each group.
Eliminate excess but
dont throw it away
As the saying goes, one
mans trash is anothers trea-
sure. There are easy ways to
donate your unwanted items
to beneft those in need.
One example is DonateStuff.
com, where you can request
pre-paid UPS shipping bags
that make it simple and free
to send in unwanted clothes,
shoes, accessories and
household linens. Your dona-
tion benefts one of three
national nonprofts of your
choosing: AMVETS, Easter
Seals, or The Purple Heart.
Its tax deductible, and it
reduces waste. Americans
throw away an average of
68 pounds of clothing each
year DonateStuff.com helps
keep over 470,000 pounds of
clothing out of landflls every
week. You can learn more at
www.donatestuff.com.
Green up your storage
When its time to put
things back into place,
instead of buying new
containers to hold things,
look around the house for
boxes and containers you
already heave. Baskets,
crates and even empty
shoeboxes can be reused
to keep your closets more
organized.
Repeat often
You dont have to wait until
the next neighborhood yard
sale before you sift through
your closets again. As with
most household chores, a
little maintaince goes a long
way to keep your closets
looking neat and clean. You
could even keep a bag in
each of your kids closets and
encourage them to set aside
gently used and outgrown
items on a regular basis.
Youll be amazed at how
much happier clean closets
can make the whole house
feel especially when you
turn the stuff you dont
need into a good deed.
Clean closets make a happy home
Family Features
Orderly closets make the
whole house feel cleaner.




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It may start with a couple
of small dark spots on the
grout where the shower
stall meets the tiled wall.
A few days later, they
multiply.
Mildew.
For most people its just
kind of an ugly pain. Their
bathroom gets these black
stains, said Ken Collier,
editor-in-chief of The Fam-
ily Handyman.
For others, though, its
an allergen, like cat hair,
dog hair, he said. If its
not removed, it can result
in respiratory problems or
other allergy symptoms,
according to the Centers
for Disease Control and
Prevention.
Mold and mildew, which
the Federal Emergency
Management Agency calls
mold in early stage, can
grow on a wide range of
surfaces as long as mois-
ture is present, and they
can give your house a
musty smell.
Its an indication of
dampness, like in bath-
rooms that are not ven-
tilated very well, said
Kathie Birenbaum, who
works in households at
Strosniders Hardware
Store in Bethesda, Md.
Molds can gradually
destroy the things they
grow on, the Environmen-
tal Protection Agency says
in a pamphlet for consum-
ers on its website. You can
prevent damage to your
home and furnishings, save
money and avoid potential
health problems by control-
ling moisture and eliminat-
ing mold growth.
Its important to do both
control the moisture
and clean up the mold to
keep it from growing back,
the EPA says.
Cleaning large areas
more than 10 square feet,
the EPA says might
require a contractor trained
in mold removal. For
smaller areas, it can be a
do-it-yourself job.
Frequently, the bath-
room is the frst place that
a homeowner or apart-
ment dweller might notice
mildew.
A lot of people take
a shower, get out of the
shower and go on their
way, Collier said. Basically,
theyve left all this water
on the walls and foor of the
shower and surprise, sur-
prise, the bathroom is damp
and you fnd mildew grow-
ing on the grout.
Often, condensation
not a leak is the source
of the moisture, Collier
said.
The bathroom fan is
a big part of keeping the
moisture level down in
the bathroom, he said. If
there isnt one, put one in. If
theres a small one, put in a
bigger one or use it more.
Opening the bathroom
window also helps, as does
more frequent cleaning,
according to the EPA.
Collier also suggests
using a squeegee to wipe
down the shower walls.
There are many products
available for cleaning mil-
dew and mold, but home-
owners also can mix their
own. A bleach solution that
CDC says should be no
more than 1 cup of bleach
in 1 gallon of water can
be used to clean and kill
mildew.
For the typical home-
owner, they would scrub
it down really well with
bleach water and then they
should seal the grout, seal
it once a year or so to keep
it water tight, Collier said.
Wear protective gloves
while cleaning. The CDC
also recommends protec-
tive eyewear.
If you cant get rid of the
mildew with bleach, you
might have to dig out the
grout and replace it, Collier
said.
For those looking for an
environmentally friend-
lier alternative to bleach,
Collier said one of the
products that mold experts
recommend is Concrobium,
which also can be used
as a fog if a whole room is
affected.
Its not just bathrooms
where youll fnd mold or
mildew.
Sometimes people fnd
it in closets where theres
limited air circulation, and
where maybe theres a cool
wall and its humid, Collier
said.
Or there could be con-
densation around heating
ducts, and youll fnd a
moldy patch on the ceiling.
Moisture from roof leaks
also can lead to growth of
mold and mildew.
If you paint over mildew,
the paint likely will peel.
Birenbaum says there spe-
cial primers that inhibit
mold growth.
Mona Weingarten of
Washington, D.C., wasnt
aware that there was mold
in her house. She didnt see
anything or smell anything.
But when one of the tiles on
the bathroom foor became
loose, she called a contrac-
tor to fx it and he discov-
ered mold. Mold later was
discovered elsewhere in her
house.
Weingarten, who has
severe allergies, developed
a fungal infection in her
sphenoid sinus and had to
have surgery. After spend-
ing tens of thousands of
dollars on remediation and
related costs, she now has
an environmental engineer
test her house every six
months and remove any
mold spores. She has the
air flters in her heating
and air conditioning sys-
tem changed every three
months, and a dehumidifer
runs in her basement.
MULTIPLYING MILDEW
Carole Feldman
the assoCiated Press
It starts with few little spots, then spreads
AP PHOTO
Strosniders Hardware employee Kathie Birenbaum arranges
display of different products to kill mildew. Mildew can lead
to respiratory problems or other allergic symptoms, health
experts says.
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Our Workmanship Speaks
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If you have kids at home,
from toddlers to teenag-
ers, I have fabulous news
for you: You dont have to
wait until they leave home
to infuse your home with
high style. There are lots
of kid-friendly ways to
make your home beautiful,
despite the wear and tear
that a family can bring.
Here are fve tips
for making your home
look sensational and
family-friendly:
1. Dress Your Walls
in Great Art
If your kids are not at a
stage of life where you can
place accessories on your
coffee table or end tables
for fear of the accessories
being broken, fnish off
your room by dressing
your walls in imaginative
artwork. Think of art as
accessories that hang,
instead of sitting on a
tabletop. When its up on
a wall, its safe from little
hands, and unless it gets
hit by a fying basketball, it
wont break. Start by get-
ting your furniture placed
exactly where you want
it. Then fll in the open
wall space with art that
expresses your familys
spirit. What do you love?
Tell people through your
artwork. It will not only
become the focal point of
your room, it will give peo-
ple insight into what makes
your family special.
2. Use an Ottoman
as a Coffee Table
Coffee-table ottomans are
one of the greatest things
to happen to family homes.
They are attractive and per-
fect for little kids. I cant tell
you how many moms have
told me that their babies
learned to walk by scooting
around a big ottoman. Oth-
ers tell me their preschool-
ers like to curl up on top of
the comfy ottomans, pop
in their thumb and rest for
a few minutes from their
play. Now that is a family-
friendly piece of furniture if
ever there was one.
One great feature of a
coffee-table ottoman is that
if your kids accidentally
decorate it with markers,
or spill grape juice on it, or
just love it until its a bit
threadbare, it can easily be
recovered using just a few
yards of fabric.
Another plus is that these
ottomans look great with
absolutely no decorations
on top of them. Pick fabric
that sports a fun pattern or
arresting color, and youre
good to go. Some ottomans
are tall enough for you
to slide a storage basket
flled with toys underneath,
giving you bonus storage
space. Dont want the bas-
ket to show? Pick an otto-
man with a skirt.
3. Select Beautiful but
Forgiving Fabrics
When young moms (or
people with pets) used to
ask me to help them select
fabrics for upholstered
furnishings, I always
teased that we needed to
pick something the color
of dirt. But now, the sky is
the limit when it comes to
kid-friendly upholstered
furniture, thanks to the rev-
olution in outdoor fabrics.
Todays outdoor fabrics
are absolutely gorgeous,
not at all the stiff and shiny
and unattractive stuff we
used to put on the chaise
lounge on the patio.
If outdoor fabric isnt for
you, heres a recommenda-
tion I make to young moms
that may sound crazy:
Put white fabrics on your
furniture. I know it may
show dirt easier. But you
can often clean up that little
dribble of juice or pencil
mark using a stain stick.
Still doesnt sound appeal-
ing to you? Then go for fab-
ric that camoufages dirt.
4. Dress up Windows
One easy way to cozy
up a room is by dressing
windows with fabric panels.
While there are always
exceptions to the rules,
most kids leave drapes
alone. But still, select fabric
that can handle the occa-
sional jelly smudge.
Big style with little kids
By mary Carol Garrity
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Spring is just around the
corner, and one of the best
ways to celebrate this sea-
son of new beginnings is to
mix some of todays fresh
new fabrics into home decor.
Here are my top picks:
Walk on the wild side
with animal prints
Animal prints are still
thriving in the jungle of
home-decorating fabrics.
Designers keep reinventing
these wonderfully textured
patterns so they are fresh
and vibrant, a perfect way
to give living spaces a bit of
unbridled energy.
When you decorate with
animal prints, be careful
not to go overboard. Often,
just a pillow or two is all
you need to mix things up
a bit.
Chevron makes the
heart beat faster
Chevron pulses with
youthful energy. Perhaps
thats why its so popular
with customers in their 20s
and 30s. Its fun to see their
faces light up when they
walk in stores and see fre-
ball chairs.
If youre closer to my
age, chances are when
you see chevrons you are
reminded of the flame-
stitch patterns that were
so popular back in the day.
Believe me, todays chev-
rons are not like those
kooky patterns in your
moms living room. Done
in turquoise, choral and
emerald, they look brand-
new. I love a chevron
mixed in with more tra-
ditional fabrics in pillow
arrangements, whether on
a sofa or bed, to give the
overall look more zip.
Lovely lattices
look so hip
Todays designers have
given yesterdays lattice
patterns a new modern
vibe. Even though the
new look in lattice motifs
is big and bold, this rein-
terpreted classic is really
pretty quiet, so it works
well mixed in with fabrics
that are stronger, brighter
and busier. My favorite
way to use lattice fabrics
right now is on side chairs.
They create an interesting
backdrop for a host of fun
decorative treatments in a
room.
Lattices are also ideal
for layering, whether
youre pulling together a
grouping of accent pillows
on a sofa or creating a
bedding ensemble that is
as perky as a cup of morn-
ing coffee.
Florals that are
fresh and fun
When you hear flo-
ral, do you picture your
grandmas parlor, or those
heavy Waverly patterns
that were so big in the 70s
and 80s? Erase that image
from your mind, because
this seasons flower-
inspired patterns tell a
brand-new story.
Florals today are robust,
not fnicky, featuring bigger
graphic patterns and more
open space instead of the
heavily layered images of
old.
Ticking so cute it will
tickle you pink
I have been in love with
simple, sedate ticking for
years, and my affection
shows no signs of stop-
ping. If youre like me,
and you like a quieter pal-
ette in your furnishings
for spring, you cant beat
a soothing, crisp ticking
pattern. When you cover
upholstered furnishings
in a gray-and-cream or
black-and-white ticking,
you get a slightly textured
neutral that gives you a
great blank canvass for
pillows in any color or
pattern imaginable. Or,
weave in a pillow made
out of ticking to help mute
a bigger-than-life pattern.
Bold buffalo checks are
arresting
My love also runs deep for
buffalo plaid. This self-con-
fdent fabric comes in lots of
color-ways, like yellow and
cream. I really like black and
cream for spring, spiced up
with a colorful pillow.
(The column has been
adapted from Mary Carol
Garritys blog at www.nell-
hills.com. She can be reached
at marycarol@nellhills.com.)
Sensational solids
People who love pattern
and color usually want to
steer clear of solids. But you
need to mix in solid fabrics
to give an overall display
balance and harmony. Oth-
erwise, there is too much
going on and the visual
impact is overwhelming.
FRESHEN UP!
Think spring when decorating with patterns
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