Page 6 - 2 LAKEWOOD EDGE FEB 2019 FINAL_Lucid

improvements and updates
IN THE HOME

DECORATIVE DIVIDERS ADD INTEREST, PRIVACY

by Kathryn Weber togetherness and a feeling of panel, Japanese paper-style a good option for portable panache, look for unique
spaciousness. However, there folding screens. Dividers privacy. But dividers don’t materials such as glass, tile, wood
omes were once are times when you might come in a variety of styles have to be the solid, hinged or metal. A chainmail curtain
comprised of a series want a cozier feel but still and options that give you panels of yesteryear. (www.mesh-curtains.com)
Hof boxes. Each box, crave the sense of open space. more decorative possibilities would be at home in
or room, served a purpose but The decorative answer? A and function. Their unique OUTSIDE THE BOX an industrial loft or a
often felt cut off from the rest room divider or partition. textures also are a big design For something a bit out contemporary design.
of the house. Today’s homes Today, dividers have come plus. Of course, the standard of the divider box, consider Give your dining room
are open and enable more a long way from old three- three panel divider is always an open-style panel divider. A panache and privacy with
pair on either side of a living a single cable wine rack
room opening says something (www.buoyantwinestorage.com).
intriguing awaits. One such These cables hold wine bottles
divider is the Charlayne that appear as though they’re
3 Panel Room Divider floating in place. Place five
(www.wayfair.com). With its single lines in the center of
updated look, the divider the dining room to create a
can also be used to create wall effect, or hang one or
a reading nook or a private two lines on either side of the
conversation area that doesn’t opening. For something with
feel cut off. more body, there are floor
to ceiling metal wine racks
ADDED DRAMA where bottles act as the divider
To create sections or (www.wineracks.com).
areas of a room and preserve
views and light, a grouping of DIY
Posner Stixx Room Divider Create a rustic look with
panels (www.allmodern.com) slatted wood partitions.
can be made as large or They’re budget friendly and
small as you like and create a great DIY project. Slats
a unique space delineating can be made any size you
option. Each comes as a set of like and placed vertically or
four; with their metal hooks, horizontally to help provide
they provide a dramatic room. If you’re extra skilled,
design statement that makes slats can be made to swivel
the divider appear to float open or closed for complete
in the air and retain an airy privacy. n
open look.
©2019 Distributed by
DISTINCT DESIGN Tribune Content Agency,
To give your room real LLC.

by Kathryn Weber

t’s always easy to improve your
home with new appliances,
Ifurniture or paint, but what
about those things around your
house that annoy you, like dirty
grout on the tile or that low-flow
shower head that takes forever to
rinse the shampoo from your head?
Here are several ideas for improving
your home this year and getting past
those aggravations you live with day
in and day out.

BETTER WATER
At the top of the list of
irritations you tolerate is the low-
flow showerhead. Sure, you want
to save water and keep the bill low,
but sometimes you need to get in
and out of the shower quickly and
that low flow is more like slow flow.
On top of that, you’d probably like
to trade that dribbling shower for a HOW TO IMPROVE
bracing one.
Try the High Sierra Showerhead
(www.highsierrashowerheads.com).
This water-saving showerhead will YOUR HOME THIS YEAR
give you a power shower and help
you and your shampoo get out faster.
And if you’re tired of scrubbing rust
stains from your bathroom fixtures,
have your plumber install a whole Older toilets can also be ELECTRIC CHANGES switch to help you remember. This it when they first came out, it’s
house water filter. It will help your frustrating. Many are rather short; There are common annoyances means it’ll be less likely you’ll chew understandable. Maybe you didn’t
pipes, give you cleaner water, and for a more comfortable sit, have with light switches. Too often we up your spoons that fall in the like that green or cool light. LED
help reduce sediment and staining. your plumber swap out that old bog have switches in strange places, and disposer. lights have come a long way and
Another aggravation? Hot water with a new one that’s a comfortable even after living in the house for If you have a noisy or wobbly they’re warmer and whiter now.
that runs out too soon. If you have height. This is especially helpful for years you can’t remember which ceiling fan, it’s high time for it Once done, you won’t be on that
natural gas or propane lines, consider older people or anyone with knee switch turns on the dining room to fly right. Have the electrician ladder anymore replacing burned
installing an on-demand hot water problems. Lastly, consider installing light. It’s time for that to end. rehang it and rebalance it so that it out bulbs, and your energy bill will
system. Because water isn’t hot at new taller bathroom cabinets so Have an electrician move the operates smoothly; that often means be lower. n
all times like a traditional hot water you don’t feel like you have to switches to where they make sense less noise too.
heater, you’ll always have enough bend halfway down to the ground to you. If you can’t remember which Make this the year you swap ©2019 Kathryn Weber
hot water and you won’t be paying to brush your teeth. Your back will switch turns on the garbage disposal out all your ceiling bulbs to LEDs. Distributed by Tribune Content
for it even when you aren’t using it. thank you. in the kitchen, swap to a brown If you’ve been reluctant to do Agency, LLC.
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