6851 S. US 421 Versailles, IN • 7 Miles South of Versailles • 812-689-4243Mon-Fri 8-5, Sat 8-4 • Cash or Check Only. We Cannot Accept Debit or Credit Cards.

COUNtry CreAtIONS• Fresh Baked Goods Daily• Deli Meats & Cheeses• Bulk Foods• Hickory Rockers

• Poly Outdoor Furniture• Wind Chimes• Rustic Barrels• Bird Feeders

• Lighthouses• Wrought Iron Decor• Poly & Wood Playsets• Gazebos & Pavilions

• Picnic Tables• Chicken Coops• Dog Houses• Rubber Mulch

(StatePoint)thewarmerweather means it’s time tostartthinkingabouthomeim-provementprojects.Whetheryou’regettingyourhomeintip-top shape for your ownenjoyment, or getting itready to put on themarket,not all home improvementprojects are created equalwhen it comes to return oninvestment (Roi). Here aretopareasonwhichtofocus:

Interiors the kitchen is the heartof the home and it’s one ofthebestareas torenovate interms of Roi, according toRemodeling magazine’s an-nual Cost vs.Value Report,which puts the price tag oftheaverageminorkitchenre-modelat$22,507,with80.5percentofthecostrecoupeduponresale. to give the kitchen anupdated appearance, replacethe flooring, countertops,sinkandfaucet.afreshcoatof paint in a trendy shade,such as Living Coral, Pan-tone’sColoroftheYear,canaddavibrantpopofcolortoenergize any kitchen. notlookingtogothatbold?Con-sideranaccentwall,orsticktoaclassicpalateofgrayand

Get more bang for your buck with these spring home improvementswhite in terms of cabinetsand countertops. White onwhite is also a popular newstyle for kitchens and bath-rooms. otherfeatureshomebuy-ersarepayingcloseattentionto are laundry rooms andsuchenergy-savingelementsas energy Star appliancesand windows, accordingto the survey “What HomeBuyers Want in 2019” bythe national association ofHomeBuilders.

Curb Appeal thepopularityofoutdoorprojects remains strong andit’s for a good reason. ac-cordingtotheCostvs.ValueReport, thebiggestbangforyourbuckin2019willcomefromreplacingagaragedoor.the report says the averagepriceis$3,611,and97.5per-cent of it is recoupedwhenthehouseissold. other outdoor projectswithhighRoiincludeaddingmanufactured stone veneertotheexterior(94.9percent),adding a wood deck (75.6percent)andreplacingsiding(75.6percent).Lookingforasimplerwaytomakeanim-pact? Sprucing up the land-scapebyplantingflowersor

bushesor even just clearingtheyardofdebriswillmakeabigstatement. no matter what updatesyou end up making, it’s al-ways a good idea to notifyyour insurance agent. “Cer-tain upgrades may changethe value of a house, so

homeowners need to makesure they’re properly cov-ered,”saysBobBuckel,vicepresidentofproductmanage-ment,erieinsurance.“thereareafewthings to lookfor.ask your agent about guar-anteedreplacementcostpol-icies that cancover thecost

torebuildahomeintoday’sdollars following a coveredloss.” Someupgradesmayalsomake you eligible for dis-counts, Buckel adds, espe-ciallyiftheymakethehomemore secure. “For example,erieinsuranceofferscertain

safety discounts such as forinstallingsmokealarmsoranautomaticsprinklersystem.” nowyouhaveachecklistofDiYprojects to focus onthis spring. But before youstart, take a moment to as-sess which ones are worthyourtimeandmoney.

Page2,SectionB theVersaillesRepublican thursday,May2,2019

one way to improvecurb appeal and set aproperty apart from oth-ersistoadddecorativeef-fects to walkways, patiosand driveways. althoughmanyhomeownersturntomaterials such as pavers,flagstoneorbrickforthesepurposes, a versatile andoften cost-effective ideaistorelyonstampedcon-crete. Stamped concrete,often called textured orimprinted concrete, istextured,patternedorem-bossed tomimic the lookof other materials, nota-blybrick, slate,flagstone,stone, tile, and wood.Stamped concrete can beusedonpatios,sidewalks,driveways, pool decks,andeveninteriorflooring.the concrete is pouredand then patterned usingspecial tools. installingstamped concrete is bestleft to concrete designspecialists with extensiveexperienceinthisdifficultcraft.

Did you know?

Family owned and operated for 28 years!Stop in today to get the beStequipment at the beSt price!

We repair aLL brands of mowers, trimmers & chains saws!2914 clifty dr. • madison, in • 812-273-4262 • www.andersonssales.com

march - June: mon. - Fri. 8 am - 6 pm • Sat. 8 am - 4 pmJuly - February: mon. - Fri. 8 am - 5 pm • Sat. 8 am - 1 pm

Find everything you need to make your mowing Season a breeze at

(StatePoint) With agrowing number of home-ownerslookingtosavemon-ey on power bills and helpthe environment, rooftopsacrossamericaaretakingona new look, asmore homesaredottedwithsolarpanels.But it’s important toasktherightquestionsbeforeinstall-ingthemonyourhome. “While thereare tremen-dous benefits to solar en-ergy, consumers should besure they are working witha qualified provider, gettingaqualityproduct that’s cus-tomizableandrightfortheirhome and situation,” saysDoug Robinson, Ceo ofLGCYPower,asolarprovid-er.“therearegreatresourcesout there such as SolarPro-viders.orgthatwillwalkyouthroughtheprocessofdeter-miningwhatsolarisrightforyou.” to help make the rightdecision, Robinson suggestsasking your energy consult-antthefollowingquestions: •What are your creden-tials? Learn whether you’reworking with a companywith expertise in the field-- how long has it been inbusiness and howmany so-larinstallationshasthecom-panyperformedto-date?Youshouldalsodoyourresearchabout the company’s trackrecord in satisfying custom-ers. •Doyouhaveanationalpresence? Local operationsdon’tnecessarilyhavethere-sourcesorpartnershipswithsolar panel manufacturersto be successful long-term.Stickingwith national com-paniescanbeasaferbet. •Whatfinancingoptionsareavailable?onesizedoesnot fit all so there should

8 questions to ask before going solar at home

always be multiple optionswhen it comes to financ-ing. in some cases, you caneven get solar systems forfree.the key is researchingoptions to find what’s bestfor you and your situation.if there aren’t financing op-tions, that isa sign thatyoushould walk away and findanothersolarprovider. •Howlongwillittaketobegin realizing savings onmy energy bill? it dependsonyourmarketand thesizeand typeof systemyouget.Someconsumers seean im-mediate savings and someseemore long-termsavings.onaveragepeoplecansaveabout30percentontheiren-ergybill.there areways tocustomizeasystemthatwillaccommodate the individualneedsofmostconsumersandinsomecases,youcanevengetasolarsysteminstalledatnocosttoyou. •aretheretaxincentivesavailable?Your energy con-sultantcanhelpyouidentifywhat federal and state taxincentives are available toyou.takingadvantageoftaxbreakscanhelpmaketheup-frontcostofsolarinstallationmoremanageable. •Whichmanufacturersdoyou use? ensure the equip-ment manufacturer will bearoundlongenoughtohonoritswarranties.Findoutwhatbrandofpanels,inverterandbatteriesyou’llreceiveandiftherearethird-partyreviewsor tests of them to verifytheirquality. •Howdoesmaintenancework? Find out how oftenyoursystemrequiresmainte-nanceandifitiscoveredbyawarranty. •Whatarethenextsteps?What is the process from

signingtheagreement to in-stallation? How long doesthistake? to learnmore about go-ingsolarathome,visitlgcy-power.com or call 844-439-2717. Solar energy is not onlyasmartmovefortheplanet,it’s a smart move for yourwallet, with the potential tosaveyourhouseholdconsid-erablemoney over the longrun.Butmakinganinformeddecision is crucial. ask therightquestionsforthegreat-estbenefits.

Manyhomeimprovementtelevision series showcasepeople deciding whether toimprove upon their currenthomestomakethemintothehousesof theirdreamsor toput “for sale” signs in theirlawnsandmoveontosome-thingnew. the question of whethertomoveorstayputdependsonvariousfactors.Suchfac-tors may include emotionalattachment to a home, thecurrenteconomicclimateandthe cost of real estate. Cur-rent data points to a greaterpropensity for people to in-vest and improveupon theircurrentpropertiesratherthantrading up for somethingnew. according to informa-tioncollectedbyJohnBurnsReal estate Consulting, thepercentage of homeownersmovinguptotheirnexthomeis the lowest in 25 years.Many are opting to makestarter homes permanent byexpanding them and repair-inghomesforthelonghaul. thenationalassociationofRealtorssaidthat,between1987 and 2008, home buy-ers stayed in theirhomesanaverage of six years beforeselling.Since2010,however,naR says the average ex-pectedlengthoftimepeoplewill stay in their homes be-foresellingisnow15years. Partofwhat’sfuelingthis

The choice of staying put or moving on

permanency is that manyhomebuyerswereabletoac-quire rock-bottom mortgageinterest rates shortly afterthe 2008 recession.as a re-sult, they’re not inclined towalkaway from those rates,even if doing someans get-tingmorehouse.also,alowinventoryofavailablehouseshasstymiedrepeatbuyingformanypeople. those factors and othershave led many homeownersto invest in renovations in-stead. the experts at Bank-

rate say realistic budgetingand comparing renovationproject costs against mort-gages and interests ratescan further help individualsdecidewhether to remain intheircurrenthomesormoveout.Veryoftenasmarterlay-out andmore efficient floorplan can make meaningfuldifferences inspaces.Reno-vations and redesigns canmake sense and often arelessexpensiveanddisruptivethanmoving.

thursday,May2,2019 theVersaillesRepublican Page3,SectionB

For all yourHome & Garden Needs!

Seed, FertiLizer, paint, chemicaLS, hardWare,

and more!

11016 u.S. 50dillsboro, in

(812) 432-5267

336 n.buckeye St.osgood, in

(812) 689-4401 (800) 221-9731

Visit us at twolocations!

200 Indian Trail • Milan, Indiana812-654-9000 • 800-654-9002www.whitewatermotorcompany.com

2017 chevroletSilverado 2500 hd LtAutomatic 6 Speed, V8

$42,988

get ready For Summer!“The Most Trusted Name In The Car Business”

2017 chevroletcolorado

4x2 Work Truck, 2.5L$18,988

2016 toyota tacoma4x4 Sr5

V6, 4 Dr. Double Cab$30,988

Visit the Greenhouses atThe Olde Garden Shack

3 Generations growing yourgardening needs for over 28 years!Come see our extensive selection offlowers, plants & barnyard friends!Just what mom wants

for Mother’s Day!Largest retail selection in 4 counties!

East of Batesville on Hwy. 46 in MorrisOpen 7 days a week • Garden Club tours always welcome

(812) 933-1155 • www.oldegardenshack.com

Let Our FamilyBring your Garden

into Full Color!

the sight of professionalpainters decked out in whiteoveralls is a familiar one tomany people. Perhaps you’vepondered just why painterswear white? the reasons be-hindpainters’sartorialchoicesisnoteasilyverifiable,butit’sfuntoexplorenonetheless. the actual name for apainting professionals ward-robe is “painter’s whites.”Whitecanvasordenimpants,white t-shirt, overalls, and awhite cap are often worn bypainters. the idea ofwearingwhite may date back to the1700s,when therewerenot avariety of house colors avail-able.asaresult,whitewastheprimarychoiceofpaintatthistime.ifwhitepaintweretobedripped on a white uniform,itwouldn’t be readilynoticedbeforelaundering. Painters also used to mix50poundsof“whiteleadpow-der”withacanofpaintpaste

tomake about twogallons ofpaint.themixingprocesspro-duced large amountsofwhitedust. to hide the dust, thepaintersworewhite. itisalsobelievedthatsomepainters crafted clothing fromthewhitesailsfromships. another theory behindpainters’ preference for whiteworkgeartracesitsoriginsto19th century union painters.thoseintheunionadoptedtheall-whiteuniformtodifferenti-atethemselvesfromnon-unionpainters. Sometimes a blackbowtiewasaddedtocompletetheprofessionalpresentation. there are some practicalreasons for painters to wearwhite. White clothing tendsto be cooler when workingoutdoors or in sunny loca-tions. Should painter’swhitesbecome dirty, they’re easilybleachable without the colorfading.also, white is a pris-tine color that will present

the appearanceof cleanliness.Homeowners may readily in-vite and trust a clean workerintotheirhomestogetthejobdone. Painters often find thattheir business logo stands outsharplyagainst thewhiteofauniform,whichcanbeanotherpractical reason to don somewhiteoveralls.Whiteclothingalso can be less expensive toreplace. today, because there aremany other paint hues avail-able, painter’s whites maynot be so pristine. But thosevariously shaded specks andsplattersmaybeindicativeofaseasonedprofessionalwhohasputinmanyhoursonthejob. Painters have long wornwhite as their unofficial uni-form. the theories as to whyvary,butthetraditionislikelyheretostay.

Why do painters wear white?

(StatePoint) Whetheryou’reremodelingforafreshtakeonanoldstyleorcontem-platinganewbuild, therearechoicesyoucanmakethatwilldefinitelypayoff,sayexperts. to add value to yourproject, consider these rec-ommended tips fromStephenQuick of Stephen alexanderHomes, builder of the 2018Coastal Virginia MagazineideaHouse. once an afterthought,lighting takes center stage ina home’s design. “Consideryourlightingneedsatthestartof the project.Wait too longand it can become expensivetomoveoraddlights,”advisesQuick. When planning lightingbasics,thinkofthedesignasawhole:chooseyourdecorativelighting fixtures at the sametime you choose recessed.a large fixture throws a lotof light, so keep adjacent re-cessedlightstoaminimum. Dimmingcapabilitiesareamust,andQuickrecommendsusing “smart” dimmers likeHubbell’s iDevice to custom-ize the dimming range. thecontrol offeredby these dim-mersmeansyoucanuselarger

statementlightingpieceswithmanybulbstocreateamazing,butnotoverwhelming,spaces. Quicktendstouselightingwithaclassic foundation,butlovestoplaywiththeeclectic.adding a bold piece that is“whimsical”inanunexpectedarea offers a surprising focalpoint,hesays. “We’vereliedonProgressLighting for twenty years,”says Quick. “especially inthepastfewyears,asthey’vetakengiantleapsindesign.” StephenalexanderHomesincorporate “lifestyle focus”openfloorplansastheirsigna-ture look.now, they are pio-neering a new trend in homeculinary spaces. Pantries arere-imagined to not only bepractical,butaspottodisplaythehomeowner’shobbiesandinterests. think useful col-lectibles like olive oils, wineor beer. Lighting this roomproperly is a must, as thelight needs to be functional,yethaveanaddedelementofdramatoshowcasethehobby. Beyond mere dollars andcents, make style choicesbased on the manufacturerratherthanthecomponent.asa builder, Quick starts with

a “basket” of necessary ele-ments, but it’s how they areapplied thatultimatelymakesthedesignspecial. Consider engaging an in-terior designer. even with asmallerremodelbudget,hiringan expert who knows whichbrandsgiveyouthemostbangfor your buck is worth theirfee.You’remorelikelytoendupwiththelookyouwantatapricethat isworththeinvest-ment. Paintisoneofthebiggestdesign tools at your disposal.“anewcoatofpaint sets thetoneforeverything.Choosingtheperfectcolorscanbehard,butpaintcompaniesareontar-getwiththelatesttrendswith-in thecolor spectrum,addingcolorsthathitthemarktogiveyourspacesafreshlook,”saysQuick. and if you don’t like thecolor once it’s on the walls?“Don’t be afraid to changeit.Paint isnot expensive. it’smoreexpensivetokeepalookyoudon’tlike.” Fordesignideas,visitpro-gresslighting.com/styles. When making home up-dates, think of those projectsthatwillpayoffthemost.

Home updates that pay off

Page4,SectionB theVersaillesRepublican thursday,May2,2019

Homeownerswhoenjoytendingtotheirlawnsknowthatgrassisvulnerabletoahostofproblems,manyofwhichappearatatimeofyearwhenlawnenthusiastswanttoshow-case the fruitsof their lawn-and-garden la-bors. Crabgrassisacommonproblemthatap-pearsinsummer.accordingtoLowes,cra-bgrass plants produce thousands of seedsbetween midsummer and early fall.Whilethefirstfrostsoflate-fallorearlywinterkillthecrabgrassplants, theseedsproducedbytheplantsremaindormantthroughoutwinterandthenbegintogrowasthegroundtemper-aturewarmsupwiththespringandsummerthaw.as a result, controlling germination,whichisthedevelopmentofaplantfromaseedorsporeafteraperiodofdormancy,isthekeytopreventingcrabgrassfrombecom-inganunsightlyblemishthatcanharmyourlawninsummer. a proactive approach to crabgrass cansavehomeowners theheadachesofdealingwith this unwanted guest taking over theirgrass.thefollowingtips,courtesyofLowes,canhelphomeownersreducethelikelihoodoftheirlawnsbeingovercomebycrabgrassassummerhitsfullswing. • Recognize that routine lawn mainte-nancemaynotbeenough.evenlawnsthatreceive sufficient tLC can fall victim tocrabgrass. a proactive, crabgrass-specificapproach to lawnmaintenance is themosteffectivewaytocontroltheproblembeforeitpopsup. •apply a pre-emergent herbicide. Pre-emergentherbicideskillcrabgrassseedlingsas they germinate. While these herbicidesare highly effective, they must be applied

at precisely the right time. the right timetoapplythemdependsonweatherpatterns.Forexample,Lowesnotesthathomeownerswholiveinregionsthatmighthaveexperi-encedwarmerthanusualwinterswillprob-ablyneedtoapplytheherbicidesearlierthanusual.While the manufacturer instructionsshould always be followed when applyingherbicides, it’s essential that homeownerstakeweather patterns into consideration aswell. •Waituntilthegroundtemperaturerisesabove 60 F.applying herbicideswhen theground temperature is below 60 F mightrendertheproductsineffective.Gaugingsoiltemperaturecanbetricky,butLowesadvisesmonitoringshrubsandtreesontheproperty.onceshrubsbegintobloomandtreesbud,herbicidecanbeapplied. •Waitwhentreatingnewlyseededlawns.Pre-emergent herbicides might kill newgrassseedlings,sohomeownerswithnewlyseeded lawns should wait until they havemowedtheirlawnsthreetimesbeforeapply-ingaherbicide. • emphasize uniform application. if aherbicideisnotapplieduniformlyacrossthelawn,crabgrasscanestablishitselfandulti-matelyspreadtotherestofthelawn. •Donotthatchoraerateafterapplyingaherbicide.thatchingoraeratingalawnafterapplyingaherbicidemightbreak theprod-uct’s chemical barrier, thereby rendering itineffective. Crabgrasscanquickly spreadonanun-treated lawn. a proactive approach thatpreventsitsgrowthcankeeplawnslookinggreatthroughsummer.

How to control crabgrass before it appears

For a kitchen so personal, it could belong to you.

Looking to replace that kitchen counter top?

Building a new home or remodeling an existing kitchen or bath?

We offer free design service and a professional trained staff ready to help you with your ideas.

Come in and let us help youexplore the possibilities.

812-689-6060 • 2358 S. Sr 129, Versailles

Mon-Tues-Wed-Fri 7:30 am - 5:00 pmThurs 7:30 am - 6:00 pm • Sat 7:30 am - 4:00 pm

HAlCOMbHOMe

CeNter

authorized deaLer

Cutters Mower repair4505 Downey ridge • rising Sun, IN

812.667.5885www.cuttersmowerrepair.com

Coupon cannot be combined with any other offers. Offer expires 5/31/19.

Thru5/31/19

Kitchens are the mostpopular rooms in manyhomes. even though theU.S.BureauofLaborStatis-ticsstatestheaveragepersonspendsjust68minuteseachweekday consuming food,andaround37minutespre-paringmeals, thekitchen isnot just a spot for food. italsoisagatheringplaceforconversation, homeworkandfamilytime. in recognition that somuch time is spent in thisheart of the home, manypeople are embracing someof the more popular trendsconcerning kitchen layoutstomaximizethecomfortandefficiencyoftheserooms.

Communal zones Unlike the days of yorewhen the kitchenwas utili-tarian, today’s home floorplansmakekitchensafocalpointofahome.Foodprepa-rationalsoisnolongerasol-itary task. thanks to largerkitchen footprints and mul-tiple zones set up for mealcreation, a greater numberof people can hang out inthe kitchen and help withmeals. You’ll find multiple

sinks,largeislandsandmorecounter space are key com-ponents of modern kitchenlayouts.

Dining nooks Kitchen designs arebringing back banquetteseatinginacozynook.thisdesign is a practical use ofspace, and can fit in largeand small kitchens alike.it also can give a kitchen ahigh-end look, as built-inbanquettes can highlight abay window or seem cus-tom-made for the space.Banquette seating can fit anumber of people comfort-ablyandprovidesasensibleandcasualdiningspotsolu-tion.

Family table the trend experts atSouthern Living magazineindicate that formal diningand living rooms are nowused infrequently. as a re-sult, kitchens have evolvedto accommodate meal prepand dining. a large fam-ilytableinthecenteroftheroombringspeople into thekitchentogetmoreinvolvedwithfood,accordingtoSanFrancisco designer David

Kensington.Counter culture

taking a page out of afavoritecornerdinerorbar,kitchens are increasinglyoutfittedwith a large islandflanked by chic counterstools, according to the de-signprosatDomino.Familymemberscanpullupastoolandgrabaquicksnack. it’salsoagreatplaceforfriendsto engage in conversationwhileahostorhostesspre-pares cocktails andappetiz-ersforaneveningsoirée.

Work zone Many families like tohave an area of the kitchensetupasa techzonewherekidscandotheirhomeworkand even parents can dosomework, such as payingbills. Setting aside an areaof counter space as a smalldeskareacanbeagreatidea.Suchareasalsohelpparentskeepawatchfuleyeonchil-dren while they’re surfingtheinternet. Kitchens are the hub ofthe household, and mod-ern design trends cater to agrowingneedforamultipur-posespace.

Rethink your kitchen layout

thursday,May2,2019 theVersaillesRepublican Page5,SectionB

• Garden Center• Landscape Supplies• Waterfalls & Water Gardens• Residential & Commercial• Landscape Design & Installation• Computer Design & Photo Imaging

7183 E. CR 400 N., Greensburg, IN 47240Phone: (812) 527-2975 • Toll Free: (888) 596-9221

www.jacksonsnursery.com • info@jacksonsnursery.com

OrnamentalTrees & Flowering Shrubs Perfect for Mother’s Day!

For great ideas incontemporary landscapes,contact Jackson’s Nursery!

investing in a home renovation project not only re-quiresmoney,butalsotimeandpatience.Whilecontrac-tors, architects and designers can estimate how long aprojectmay take, it is impossible toanticipateallof thescenariosthatcanaffectthatestimatedtimeline.informa-tion from the real estate firm KellerWilliams indicatesanaveragekitchenremodelinvolvinginstallationofnewcountertops,cabinets,appliances,andfloorscantakethreetosixmonths.Butifductwork,plumbingorwiringmustbeaddressed,thejobmaytakelonger.amidlinebathroomremodelmaytaketwotothreemonths.addingaroomtoahousecantakeamonthortwo.thehomeimprovementresourceRenovationJunkiesofferssimilarestimates,withthe average home renovation taking between four andeightmonths.Homeowners need to consider timewhenplanningtheirhomeprojects.

Did you know?

Whetherhomeimprove-ment projects are designedto improve the interior orexteriorofahouse,focusingon renovations that makethemostfinancialsensecanbenefit homeowners in thelongrun.therightrenova-tions can be assets if andwhen homeowners decidetoselltheirhomes. So how does one getstarted?Firstandforemost,speak to a local real estateagent who is knowledgea-bleabouttrendsinthecom-munity.Whileaswimmingpool may be somethingcovetedinonearea,itmayimpede sales in another. italsohelpstostudygeneral-ized trends and data fromvarioushomeimprovementindustry analysts to guideupcomingprojects. the following outdoorprojectsarejustafewreno-vationsthattendtoaddval-ue. •Firepit:afirepit isagreat place to gather mostmonths of the year. BobVila and CBS news reportthat a fire pit realizes a 78percent return on invest-ment,orRoi. •outdoorkitchen:Manybuyers are looking to uti-lizetheiryardsasanexten-sionofinteriorlivingareas.Cooking, dining and evenwatchingtVoutdoorsisin-creasinglypopular.outdoorliving areas can be customdesignedandbuilt.inaddi-tion, prefabricatedmodularunits that require a muchsmaller commitment oftime and money are avail-able. • Patio: Homeownerswhodonot alreadyhave apatio will find that addingone can increase a home’svalue. Patios help a homelook neat, add useablespaceandmayhelpahometosellquickly.theexpertsat Space Wise, a divisionofextraSpaceStorage,saythat refinishing, repairingandbuildinganewpatioof-fersstrongRoi.

Outdoor improvements that boost home value

Designing a home’s in-terior can be fun. Whetherfurnishing a first apartmentoranewlypurchasedfamilyhome,manypeoplefeelthatthearttheyputonthewallsoftheirhomesisanexpres-sion of their individuality,and that a home isn’t trulya home until its interior re-flectstheirpersonalities. Furnishing a home withart can be intimidating, es-peciallyforpeopledoingsofor thefirst time.Buta fewtricks of the trade can helpmen and women turn theinteriorsoftheirhomesintospaces that reflectwho theyare. •embraceyourpersonaltaste.Don’thesitatetodeco-rateyourwallswithartyoulike.Whenbuying furnitureforahome,itcanmakesenseto follow certain rules. Forexample, parents of youngchildrenmightwant to pur-chase dark-colored furnish-ingsthatcanhidestains.Butnosuchrulesshouldgovernyourchoicesofartwork.artreflectsthepersonwhomadeit,butitalsoreflectstheper-son who buys it, so buyersshould embrace their per-sonal taste when furnishingtheirhomeswithart. • Shop around. thanksto the internet, billions ofpiecesofart,fromtapestriestophotographs topaintings,areatyourfingertips.Com-parisonshoppingcanbefunand help novices discovertheir personal tastes. it alsocanbeagreatwaytosupportartists.Forexample,90per-

centofallimageroyaltiesonartpurchasedfromYourart-Gallery.comgoesdirectlytothe artist, ensuringmuchofbuyers’ money is going to-ward supporting the peopleresponsible for the art theyplantohangintheirhomes.thatcangivepeopleagreat-er sense of pride in theirhome’sdecor. • Seek inspiration. ifyou’re unfamiliar with art,don’t hesitate to seek inspi-ration. art is everywhere,from the hotels you stay inwhile traveling to the bill-boardsyoupasswhiledriv-ing towork to the local artmuseumnearyourhome. ifyou’reuncertainofwhatyoulike,makeaconcertedeffortto recognize theartyouseebut may not stop to noticeeach day. as you exposeyourself to more and moreart, you will gain a greaterknowledgeofwhatyoulikeanddislike.Usethatknowl-edge to inform your deci-sions when buying art foryourhome. •Switch thingsup.Yourentire home does not needto follow a theme. if yourtaste in art is eclectic, em-brace that and have differ-ent rooms throughout yourhome reflect your differenttastes. this can give eachroomitsownuniquefeelandmakeforacolorfulhome. the art people hang intheir homes is a personalchoice, and the process offinding that art can be funandeye-opening.

The art of buying art for your home

•Deck:Deck canbe asvaluableaspatios.adeckisanother outdoor space thatcan be used for entertain-ing, dining and more. Re-modeling magazine’s 2018“Cost vs.Value” report in-dicatesthatan$11,000deckcanaddabout$9,000inre-salevalue to thehome, re-couping around 82 percentoftheproject’scosts. •Door update: improve

curb appeal with a new,high-end front door andgarage doors. if that’s tooexpensive, a good clean-ing and new coat of paintcanmakeanolddoor lookbrandnew.theseeasyfixescanimproveahome’slookinstantly. •new landscaping:thenational association ofRealtors says an outdoormakeover that includes

well-thought out landscap-ing can net 105 percentRoi. installing a walk-way, adding stone plant-ers,mulching,andplantingshrubsareideastoconsider. Many different outdoorprojectscanaddvalue toahome.

Page6,SectionB theVersaillesRepublican thursday,May2,2019

PatteRSoN'S NuRSeRy, INC.Hours: Tues. thru Sat. 9 am - 4 pm • Closed Sun. & Mon.812.689.0102 • Visit us at www.pattersonsnursery.com

Bulk Mulch & Stone:(delivery available)

• Red Dye • Black Dye • Brown Dye • AA Hardwood• Cypress • 5L Decorative Stone • Brass Field • Sand

• Bulk Compost • Bulk Shredded Dry Topsoil• Proven Winner Plants

2940 S. Old Michigan Rd. • Holton, IN 47023From Versailles: take 50 West to Michigan rd., go south 3 miles. From Madison: take 421 North toMichigan rd., go north 9 miles. From North Vernon: take 50 east to Michigan rd., go south 3 miles.

VISIt ouR NeWGIFt ShoP!

Featuring: Jim Waldo's Landscape &Wildlife Photography, Exclusive Black Crow

Candles, Antiques, ProfessionalPruners & Garden Tools & Glazed Pottery.

Shop in a quiet atmosphere tucked back in the woods!

Come tag a

tree in our

field to be dug!

Committed to Growing

• Perennials • Garden Art • Mature Trees• Stone Pub Tables • Stone Patio Tables• Over 800 Container Trees in Stock

• Flowering Shrubs • Peat Moss• Stone Benches • Landscape Boulders

• Outdoor Fountains • Bird Baths• Statuary • Steel Edging

• Check out our Hosta House• Hanging Baskets

762 E. Co. Rd. 300 S. Versailles, IN

812.689.6347www.thorntoncycle.com

Heatwavesareaninevitablepartofsum-mer inmanyplaces across theglobe.Whilehumanscanescapeindoorstoairconditionedroomswhenheatwaveshitfullswing,flowersplantedaroundapropertyhavenosuchlux-ury,putting theirsurvival in jeopardywhen-ever the mercury rises to especially steamyheights. Wiltedflowersthathavesuccumbedtothesummer sunare a sightmanygardeningen-thusiastscanrecognize.Buttherearewaystokeepflowerssafeandvibrantduringperiodsofextremeheat. •Waterattheappropriatetimesofday.thenationalGardeningassociationnotesthatit’sbesttowaterintheearlymorningandeveningbecauselesswaterwillbelosttoevaporationduringthesetimesofdaythanduringtheaf-ternoon,whentemperaturestendtobeattheirhottest. • Choose the right wateringmethod. it’snot just when but also how you water thatcanaffectflowersduringsummerheatwaves.aboveground sprinklers might be great forlawns,butthenGanotesthatsuchsprinklerscan encourage the spread of disease on cer-tainplants, includingroses.Manygardeningprofessionalsrecommendsoakerhoseswhen

wateringflowersbecause theypromotedeepwateringthatcanhelptheplantswithstandthesummer heat. if youmust use an overheardwatering system, set the timer so plants arewateredinearlyinthemorningorevening. •Routinely check the soilmoisture. Soilmoisturecanhelpgardenersdetermineiftheirflowers have enoughwater towithstand theheat.thenGaadvisesgardenerstodiga12-inchdeepwedgeofsoilfromtheirgardenstodetermine its moisture levels. if the top sixinches of the soil is dry, water. if that areais stillwetormoist, theplantshaveenoughmoisture towithstand the heat. Check thesemoisture levelsmore frequently during heatwavesthanothertimesofyear. • avoid overwatering. novice gardenersmay be tempted to water more frequentlywhentheyseewiltedleavesontheirflowers.Butwilted leavesarenotnecessarily indica-tiveof sufferingplants.Plants releasemois-ture to protect themselves from excessiveheat, and that release ofmoisture can causeleavestowiltastheplantstrytoprotectthem-selvesbyprovidinglesssurfaceareathatcanbeexposedtothesun.Solongassoilmoisturelevelsarehealthy,theflowersshouldbefine,eveniftheirleaveshavewilted.

How to help flowers withstand heat waves

Many homeowners wishforexpansivekitchens.Mod-ernizedkitchensthatincludesought after features andshowcasethelatesttrendsgoalongwaytoimprovingtheoverallvalueofahome. as desirable as suchkitchens may be, somehomes simply don’t haveenough space for a center-fold-worthy kitchen featur-ing an island, wine refrig-erator and walk-in pantry.However, homeowners withsmall kitchens can still im-prove theformandfunctionoftheirexistingspaces.

Reconfigure and revamp cabinetry

Homeowners whosekitchens are small often la-ment their lack of storage.Redesigning the layout ofcabinets, and possibly add-ing some more cabinetry,maytakecareofcertainstor-age issues. the experts atMerit Kitchens suggest uti-lizingcornerspacewithLe-Mansunits, lazy susansandothergadgetstomakeaccessto these areas easier. Goingvertical with wall cabinetsthatextendtotheceilingalsocanaddmorestorage,ascanroll-inworkcarts.

Work with the walls Small kitchens requireclever usage of verticalspace.Verticalstorageunits,hooks, shelving, and morecanmoveitemsoutofdraw-ersandoffofcounters.Con-sider an under-the-cabinettoasterovenandmicrowavetocreatemorecounterspace.

Use scaled-downappliances

Shop with size in mindwhen looking at new appli-ances if you have a smallkitchen. Compact versionswon’t take up as muchspace as larger alternatives.Homeowners should con-sider the ultimate function

Small kitchen improvements thatmaximize functionality

ofthekitchenandthenthinkaboutwhich applianceswillservethemwell.Homeown-erswith smallkitchensmaynotneedalargestandmixeror an oversized commercialstove.

Add some glass theDiYnetworkrecom-mends incorporating glassto improve the perceptionof space in small kitchens.Glass lets you see throughthe objects, thereby enhanc-ing the feeling of spacious-ness or what designers call“negativespace.”Glassalso

canbereflective,visuallyex-pandingthespace.

Embrace high-endmaterials

it costs less to renovatesmall spaces thanbiggerar-eas, sohomeownersmaybeable to afford high-endma-terialsthatreallyaddperson-ality to a kitchen. Flooring,countermaterialsandqualityfixtures can really set smallkitchensapart.Small kitchens can be culi-nary havens with the rightimprovements to maximizethespace.