= 6 The Dallas Post Spring Home Improvement D -— Section 2 - Wednesday, April 21, 1993 Cost-friendly ways to perk up your abode By Sharon Williams Copley News Service High fashion and high style once carried a hefty price tag, and the best rooms were achieved only when the sky was the limit. Things are considerably more down to earth in the lean "90s, but nobody is suffering on the home front. Instead, home designers, own- ers, renters and decorators have gone back to the basics. They've stretched their budgets and their imaginations, tightened their purse strings and shopped until they’ve dropped for the bargains. Their efforts have resulted in some spectacular rooms — rooms that put an end to the myth that good decorating requires gobs of money, massive amounts of man- power and months of renovation. You can achieve the same mar- velous, money-saving results if you plan to tackle a decorating project in the coming months. Following are some suggestions for getting the most for your re- furbishing finances. GO WITH A PRO Employing an interior designer might seem an indulgent expense for someone who’s counting every penny. But a modest budget doesn’t mean you should shy away from consulting a home decorat- ing professional. In fact, an interior decorator might help you save money — or at the very least enough to cover his or her design fee. Typically, he or she will begin the job by establishing a budget with you. Once that’s accom- plished, he or she can advise you on design trends, new materials and products, offer a variety of af- fordable suggestions without com- promising quality and suggest fea- tures that can boost your home’s resale value. Design professionals also have a knack for making everything old new again through artful rear- ranging and the reintroduction of forgotten objects and furnishings that were relegated to the closet or back room. Fully Insured G. MILLER HAULING & BACKHOE WORK Landscaping Mulch * Stone Peat Moss * Crushed Shale Sand - Field Stone No Job Too Small Free Estimates 696-2930 In most cases they have insid- ers’ access to merchandise, labor and materials sources that are out of reach for the average consum- er. RENTER'’S RIGHTS So you've rented a drab pad. You don’t have to spend a fortune on furnishings to compensate for the obvious lack of aesthetic ap- peal. And you don’t have to just live with it, either. Instead, say design pros, why not focus on simple, inexpensive, adaptable pieces that you can take with you once you're ready to move on? Some examples: Cover dull, worn carpet with area rugs; re- place unsightly window treat- ments with inexpensive mini- blinds, lace panels or balloon shades; and pull slipcovers over couches and chairs. Throw pillows can add splashes of color, ugly drawer pulls and cabinet knobs can be replaced with prettier versions from a nearby do-it-yourself emporium, and makeshift furnishings — such as a table made from a wooden crate and circular piece of ply- wood — can be camouflaged with patterned sheets or fabric. Another thought: If your land- lord won't allow paint or wallpa- per, rent furniture that works with the apartment’s existing scheme. When you're ready to move, you can leave the furniture behind. Give a roomful of hand-me-down furniture new panache with inexpensive matching pillows and striking objets d'art. DO-IT-YOURSELF From wonderful window dress- ings to fabulous floor coverings, many home. accessories are just a hammer, scissors or a few yards of fabric away. Home projects abound for do-it- yourself decorators. You can, for instance, find patterns galore in a range of skill levels for converting designer sheets or decorator fab- rics into folding screens, dining room appointments, decorator pil- lows, cushions, bedroom ensem- bles, window treatments and slip- covers. Ditto for patterns and explana- tions in magazines, books and on Spring is approaching and it’s time to start considering all there is to do to keep your estate looking great. Mowing...Landscaping...Fertilizing...Tree Trimming... Excavating...Exterior House Washing...etc...etc...etc ___ How many calls will you have to make? Tree Trimming and Removal Complete Exterior House Washing Services Including Steam Cleaning Landscaping Services (Stone Walls, Patios, Shrub Trimming, Landscape Design) Lawn Care (Mowing, Edging and Fertilizing Using Conventional or Organic We also offer complete excavating services. Estimates are free. Why not make just one call? Call Now To Schedule Spring Clean Up! RECON Enterprises, RD6 Box 152, Tunkhannock, PA 18657 video that offer instruction on sub- jects such as how to construct a lampshade, drape a valance, sten- cil an unfinished bench or sponge- paint a wall. CREATE YOUR OWN ART When culled from an uptown gallery, art can take a big bite out Continued on page 7 The Pella Window 2 Store Windows, Doors, Sunrooms & Skylights e QUALITY e SERVICE e VALUE That's why people keep coming back to Pella. Visit the Pella Window Store WILKES-BARRE Located one block past Mundy Street, Route 309 239 Spring Street 823-7825 w The Dallas Post Spring Home Improvement S Section 2 Wednesday, April 21, 1993 11 Home improvement help By Jennifer Plantier Copley News Service A growing number of cable tele- vision shows, books and even com- puter programs offer advice for those preparing to tackle any kind of home project or even just fish- ing for ideas. CABLE TV e “This Old House” (PBS). A crew of experts transforms a post- war ranch house over the course of a 26 show season. Watch for a whole houseful of tips on con- structing, remodeling and reno- vating older homes. ® “The New Yankee Workshop” (PBS). A unique wood-working project is crafted from start to finish in each episode. Learn to build a new piece of furniture for your own home. e “Bob Vila’s Home Again” (Syndicated). This program’s focus on workable face lifts inspires viewers to see their own home in a new light. Vila plans and executes stylish home renovations from start to finish. e “Remodeling and Decorating Today” (The Nashville Network). A duo of enthusiastic hosts pro- vide remodeling help for more skilled home improvers. e “Decorating With Mary Gil- liatt” (PBS). A wealth of advice on furniture, wall coverings, window dressings and more is revealed as Mary attempts to revamp real houses in need of her services. COMPUTERS Use a modem to hook into Hom- Cooling tips By Sharon Williams Copley News Service - The temperature’s rising, and your tolerance level is falling. To beat the heat, consider the follow- ing. e Install a fan. From ceiling fans that provide both a breeze and light, to miniature fans that can be clipped to a desk or count- er, fans cool and comfort in a vari- ety of shapes and sizes. ® Invest in an air conditioner. Sky-high temperatures may have convinced you that now’s the time to invest in a total system. Or per- haps a swamp cooler or portable air conditioner that will lower the eLine, an electronic bulletin board full of computer files on many home-improvement subjects. Pe- ruse a file on kitchen projects or communicate with others taking on similar endeavors. Dial (410) 745-2047 to get on-line. BOOKS e “Ortho’s Home Improvement Encyclopedia — Problem Solving from A to Z” (Ortho Books). A vol- ume chock full of fix-it projects from lighting to landscaping. e “Basic Plumbing Illustrated” (Sunset Books). Discover how to plug your own leaks or install your own appliances. e “Ideas for Great Wall Systems” (Sunset Books). Design and build a beautiful and incredi- bly efficient wall system for a li- brary, entertainment room or ga- rage. e “Basic Wiring Techniques” (Ortho Books). Keep this guide to electrical repairs handy. e “Elsie de Wolfe — A Decora- tive Life” by Nina Campbell & Caroline Seebohm (Potter Pub- lishers). Pick up basic decorating principles by studying the work of the profession’s most famous, in- novative and influential interior decorator. @ “Master Strokes” by Jennifer Bennell (North Light Books). This guide to decorative paint finishes promises ideas and instruction on decorative painting techniques. Try your hand at marbling, wall- glazing, gilding, crackle finish or cracklure. thermometer in specific areas will do the trick. @ Block the sun. Put your exist- ing window treatments to work, or invest in new ones that will shield your rooms from the sun’s rays during the hottest times of the day. Shades, blinds and drapes that open and shut are effective barriers that please the eye. @ Cool through landscaping. A strategically placed tree here and a land berm there can help bring the temperature down Mother Na- ture’s way. Consult a landscaping professional on ways to change your landscaping for ultimate cool. Materials supplied by JMF Custom Builders Quality Construction Guaranteed All types of Construction New Homes - Remodeling Decks - Electrical - Tile Kitchens & Baths Fully Insured Free Estimates 19 years experience in the building trades Jim Fitch 717-388-6086 dll ; WHIPPLES uilding Material Centers Patios, decks (Continued from page 10) Large-scale options include full- blown pools and bubbling Jacuzzis — many aesthetic wonders in themselves. Lap pools, ponds filled with wa- ter lilies and koi, streamlets, wa- terfalls, birdbaths and fountains, meanwhile, are smaller, less-ex- pensive ways to bring a little splash into your space. ALL THE EXTRAS No room would be complete without accessories, and an open- air space is no exception. Consid- er: e Lighting: Japanese lanterns, sparkling miniature lights and ground lighting are just a few of the ways to illuminate an outdoor space when the sun goes down. e Fabrics: Fabric for cushions, throw pillows, upholstery and out- door table appointments should be fresh and light. Consider durable outdoor fabrics in floral prints, bright colors or quintessential white. If you plan to cover windows looking onto your deck, patio or porch, think about airy lace panels or fabrics such as linen or muslin that flow as freely and gently as the morning breeze. e Plants: Hanging plants, con- tainer plants and cut flowers add touches of color and life to an out- door living space and can brighten adjoining indoor spaces as well. e Extras: Birdhouses, statuary, blossoming dinnerware patterns, sundials, terra-cotta suns and planters, wind chimes and wind socks are a few of the many ways to give an outdoor living area per- sonality and style. There are only a few types of shelter that might not qualify for our low cost home improvement loan. Member FD1C Put a new accent on your home, add a room, modernize your bath, redo your basement. . . but however you plan to update, reno- vate, enlarge or improve, see us first. Our home improvement loans come in a variety of "Styles" to let you select the plans and rates that suit your budget. We'll be happy to work with you on arranging terms that work best for you. Call For An Appointment The Luzerne National Bank 118 Main St., Luzerne 801 Main St., Swoyersville Call 288-4511 Equal Housing Lender IBAA Equal Opportunity Lender « Member Independent Bankers Association of America, representing the nation's community banks
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