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Show Frid?y. Lass is mora In decorating for holidays to reach the appetizers." Not a By GAKYKRf0 Orange Couray Register Yes. We can count as well as you caa. We are. quae aware that Christmas is exactly 53 days off. Blink your eyes once too often, though, and Nov. I (that today) can become Dec. 25 a whole kit faster than we'd all like to admit. The point is this: & is act, we repeat not, too early to begin thinking ahcurt how you'll transform your living space to reflect the holiday season. Planning ahead, especially at this time of year, makes perfect sense, and so does Aha Boehmer, stylist for Coming Home, the division of the Lands End cata-lolh g. Boehmer has all sorts of ideas about bow to make your Christmas decorating ever-s- o design perfect What he has to say is wroth a serious listen. Too much, too much, too e much is the single biggest most of as make when decfor the holidays. orating Boehmer says. So. how do you know mhen you've overdone it? "When you walk into a room arid don't know where to look first." be says. "Or. if you have Sasta to climb over die urns-tak- life-siz- ed pretty picture. Rale I: Each holiday decora-tso- a might kx great fey itseif. But, if together, they become the whok room, it's lime to scate back. Put sway a few items and rotate them back into the display the next year, Boehmer recom-Btends. Rule 2: Holiday-decoratkcolors should coordinate with colors in the room. You do not have to stick with red and green. Lots of blues andor greens in a room? Try frees or blue plus silver. Red and white or blue znd white might fit well with a pared-dow- n conlemporary look. Peach and green? Instead of red, look for decorations that lean to bur. gundy. Rule 3: Decide on an anchor decoration. ""Decide upon one important decoration in your bouse."" Boehmer says. "Make it the most beautiful, piece and build around it. . Less is more." Rule 4: Use texture o add interest to what you have. Combine smooth, flat herns with tetured ones, while keeping with the theme of your home. "If you have a lie of folk art." Boehmer savs, "chances are m " eye-catchi- branches, pine cones and dried materials are the texture you're looking for. If your home is more contemporary, then a textured basket full of smooth, shiny glass ornaments creates depth." A warm holiday throw tossed on a chair or sofa can bring the furnishings to life as long as the pattern and colors in the throw don't clash with the patters and colors on the furnishings. To pull items in a setting together, consider weaving a ribbon (color based on the colors in the decorations) through them. Choose either textured or smooth ribbon, depending on the items it will complement. For example, cloth Santas would call for a smooth, shiny ribbon to offset the textural cloth in die Santas' outfits. Rule 5: Shape it all up with shapes. Squares, circles or any shape can be repealed throughout the house to create a consistent look from the minute you walk in the door all the way to your bedside. The more repetition, the more impact and presence. Gary Kriim coxers des ign for the Orange Counry Register. He t tm be reached a) The Orange CtmU Register. P.O. Box 11626, SantaAna. Calif. 927 Thoroughness is vital part of a contract Q. We just received a contract from our remodekr for our bathroom project. What should we be looking for in the contract, and htm can we be sure the contract covers everything? A. Thoroughness in a contract for any remodeling project is esseDbal for the protection of the hosrteowaef awl the remodekr. Tbe contract represents your agreement wirii die remodeter. and k should outline the specifications pertaining to your project as well as the general cosxfclions. Tbe specifications should oat-fiitems such as special project procedures, tncrudjcg bow tbe house will he seared and kept construction. cleaa during Speoficaoocts also shouU list the types of materials being used and special applications or locations of those materials if they are not on the pfaa. Tbe general cctoditkios should include items ssach as change-ordprocedures, allowance procedures (guidelines for dealing with the selectioe of product such as pfesribiag fixtures, eibisess awl tiki, warranty, conflict resolution, isssraace KsjsirssssEK and payment schedule. Also trader general conditions ne radi-cas- ed are the notices of the Consumer Rights Recovery Fund and the Right of Rescission, as mandated by the stale of Florida. The recovery fund has been set up by the Florida Construction Industry yenning Board to help homeowners mho may have kst money because of a contractor's of The Right problems. Rescission allows homeowners to cancel a contract within three days. If ysour contract does not specify a particular item or condition mat was originally discussed with you reroodeler. ask the reraodeJer to include it Q. My garage seems to get so hot during the summer. Is there any way to alleviate this tempera-lur- e problem? A. Tbe advene beat that builds up in the ack above your garage penetrates tbe oosinsiiiated garage ' ceiling, creating higher than normal temperatures in your garage. By insulating your garage ceiling, the hot air in your attic will be forced to escape through the attic or soffit vents to the outride, allowing you to enjoy a much cocder garage-Insulati- your garage netting is relatively easy.' Any reputable insulation company can blow insulation into ur garage ceiling in less than a day. Questions are emsMerrd by Gidms of PSG Stephen Ctmamctkm, Ire. in Winter Pari--, Fla He is a member of the Remadelen Council, em arm of the Home Builders Association of Mid-Florid- a. Address questions to Ail the The Orlando Sentinel. P.O. Box 211. Orlando, Flo. Revmde&er. 32W2-G2I- Ninnbr I, im THE Even as the holidays approach and you get ready to retrieve all that decorative gear, you've probably not fully stored your summer goodies. It's about time you do. But this year, do it right. If you're that person who has a perfect system for storage, then don't read this. But if you're like the test of us who have a mildly good storage system but couid use some help, read on. The folks who run The Container Stores have some good ideas to make your storage more Give it away. You know how this goes; things tend to accumulate. Before you store anything for the season, be sure to consider whether you wiil really ae it or whether you can give again it away. Begin by donating items that your family does not intend to use again. Nonprofit agencies gladly accept items your family has outgrown or no longer needs. Make a list of every hem you donate and be sure to get a receipt if you're donating to a nonprofit group. It doesn't hurt to hae the list handy at tax time if you itemize. Be resourceful. Utilie every inch of space in your houe and garage. Remember that behind doors, in comers and beneath beds and skirted tables, there are probably efficient and seldom-use- d places for storage. A grid system on the garage wall or stackable bins in the corner can add storage space to a crowded area. Think strategically. After using traditional areas for stooge, think about nontraditional wavs to use space. Put summer items in the least accessible storage places. The hack of a closet the garage, the attic and even the ceiling are great places to store items mat will not North, Pleasant Grove, Utah 1. ifek-fiPare- y VauftedCe&rcs Kill" BjS ty LT 2S&yDesg Aks. 1360 Sj.1. AIQafcCa&res r SjSb ' 3 4 Baft. Wak - Ccs&. CeSng Fan. VkJted Cefirg Pnwgs Fenced Bark Yanl Paio II I M 1H i 3LTeEcrxrs 3Ea?"nxrs Recessed LcfSrig PiaygTSjrxj; Peine Arfa m 1390 M. In rfU RW SS5X Ftouncfe3 Seuccd Caress Eee-o- r Prowo FflOAY OP& CAA.Y M39CAY T2 NOON TO T I'M SATURDAY II AJML to 5 TO SiOEiOO FRCES BESOCM MCCELS T3 OOCSE TW3 AND 1 W P0U. 4--7 MODEL OPEN MoNL-Fa 1.7 Sat. ri. RAMOTSAUBT Rob HcGovern 3C9 Etirwood by 300 E. SCO K. days er Davencourt Townhomes 1150 West 930 Wtesr dean. S -- efficient- - Sfifsge Shed Oot Carta - 4 Bd, 2 Ba, 2353 Sq. St, e&v ira. Lg tarn m, rice, 227-990-1 be used again for some time. For hanging bike example, a fold-u- p rack is a convenient w ay to store a cumbersome item and save floor space. Chaose wisely. While packing items away for a winter's nap, remember to use proper containers. Plastic storage bins are suitable for summer toys being stashed in the garage, but you can bed clothuse boxes for under-th- e all mat Remember ing storage. dust and Sim that can collect under your bed? You'll want a closed container to keep it out Think ahead. Each time a box is packed or a bin is filled, label the container neatly and clearly. Taking care of details now could prevent headaches next summer. Use erasable labels a convenient way to keep a container labeled as the seasons change. Protect it. After tbe swimsuits and shorts are put away, there are always large pieces that must remain outside. Remember that items being stored outside need to have protective covering to survive the winter. Get help Don't try to do this all yourself. Get help from a friend or family members, especially with donations from their summer stash of clothes, toys or whatever. One way to do this is to start a collection basket. Keep it near the door (not vour front door), so everyone going out gets reminded to pu: something in it that they want stored. This may work for organized adults and the stray teen-agw bo's organized, but for most people, it will take a link nagging. Maybe with a warning that what summer gear they don't deposit for storage will be thrown out Mavbe with one of those yellow plastic tapes that say "caution" around their doorw ay. Ait A Harder s home editor of the Orange County t Calif. I Register. Write to him at The Orange Cowtx Register. PO Box 11626. Santa Ana. Calif. 92711. 8y NICK HARDER Orange County Register Laundry OFEN HOUSE Saturday 12-- 3 pjn. 7&S-1SC- fagej When you store that summer gear, do it right er $104,900 DAILY HERALD, Home Magadoe, JUSTM IXXXSTACER 37S-O- 860-722- 5 (24 Hrs) |
