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THURSDAY AUGUST 3, 2006
6D REAL ESTATE
Cook up kitchen
of your dreams
ARTICLE RESOURCE ASSOCIATION ,
We’ve all seen the exquisitely-designed, high-
end kitchens in magazines or on television.
They may have the latest gadgets, such as
digital ovens or refrigerators with internet
access. But, don’t you wonder how they really
cook in that kitchen?
"^^sitir^ trade shows, I see many products
with a “WOW factor,” said Leslie Segrete,
television designer, national home
improvement radio host, 'Today Show’
contributor and graduate of the French
Culinary Institute. “But when I think about
the products I want in my own kitchen, they’re
not always my first choices.”
Instead, Segrete recommends investing
money in the “workhorse” items of the kitchen
- sinks, faucets and coimtertops. “The key to
kitchen design is to make it work for you,” she
said. ‘Tou want to make sure the products you
choose are functional, fashionable and easy to
clean.”
"lb create Ihe kitchen of your dreams, Segrete
named these four products as “must-haves” for
their fimctionality and quality design:
Sink money into a sink
When it comes to sinks, they are not aU
created equal. Kitchen sinks come in a variety
of materials including stainless steel, granite
and quartz, as well as numerous sizes and
shapes. For chefs looking to blend st}de with
function and quality Segrete recommends
Moen’s new Lancelot Professional Sinks.
These 16-gauge stainless steel sinks offer a
visuaUy-appeafing undermount installation,
10-inch deep bowls and angled sidewalk for
easy clean-up. Plus, they are available in four
differ^t size configurations to meet the needs
of every cook.
“The depth of this sink makes it easier to fit
large pots and pans,” said Segrete. “And the
angled walls are easy to keep clean while
giving it a very upscale look”
Focus on faucets
Sometimes called Ihe ‘jewehy of the sink,”
the faucet can add the finishing touch of stjde
to the kitchen. However, when choosing a
faucet, be sure to find one with not only high
style, but functionality When it comes to
meetup both criteria, Segi'ete’s solution is high
arc kitchen faucets. In addition to the
beautiful lines provided by the high arc spout,
the added height makes it simple to fit large
pots and pans under the water stream.
“Moen offers a variety of exqiusitely-designed
high arc faucets, such as their Vestige kitchen
faucet,” said Segrete. “Plus, the Hne is
available in a variety of finishes, including new
Pewter, to coordinate with today’s kitchen
appliances.”
Add a personality in backsplash
The countertop is the workhorse of the
kitchen - but don’t forget the backsplash - it’s
just as important. Not onlywill the backsplash
protect your walls firom food splashes, it also
gives you the opportunity to add some of
personality to your gourmet kitchen. For a
unique and easily cleanable backsplash, try
customizing your own mix of glass mosaic tiles.
“Don’t forget about the grout!” Segrete adds.
“Usk^ a variety of colors of tiles and grout you
can create specialized patterns that are
uniquely you.”
Don’t sweat the mess
Cooking in your gourmet kitchen will be
much more enjoyable if you aren’t thinking of
the clean-up. But Segrete won’t trust ha-
delicate crystal and dishes to just any
dishwasher. She recommends Bosch
dishwashers, since they are highly engineered
to operate in a quiet and efficient way
Floored by
laminates
PHOTO/ARA CONTENT
Today's laminate flooring is easy to install.
ARTICLE RESOURCE ASSOCIATION
Imagine a beautiful wood-look floor that
can be quickly installed, is durable enough to
stand up to everyday fife, and can be
maintained with jxist a damp cloth. It may
socmd too good to be true, but today’s
laminate flooring offers aU of this and more,
and is fast becoming one of the hottest home
improvement projects among do-it-
yourselfers.
‘Tor homeowners who want the look of
wood without the maintenance headaches,
laminate flooring is ideal,” said Don
Cybalski, U. S. design manager for Pago; the
leading brand of laminate flooiirg. “It won’t
wear throiogh, stain or fade, and wont ever
need waxing, polishing or refinishing. And
the designs are so realistic that many people
mistake it for the real thing.”
Introduced by Pergo to the United States in
1994, laminate flooring is made of wood
byproducts compressed under extreme
pressure to form super-hard layers that are
sandwiched together and finished with a
surface second only to diamonds in hardness.
The resulting product offers durability and
ease of maintenance far superior to any other
flooring option.
Substance and style
The beauty of laminate flooring doesn’t just
lie beneath its surface. The variety of designs
available today is virtually bmitless with
colors and textures that are more realistic
than ever. In fact, consumers routinely
mistake laminates for higher priced wood,
ceramic or stone? alternatives. Beyond the
popular oak, maple and pine varieties,
laminates are available in exotic wood looks
like mahogany walnut and cherry, as well as
in classic tile designs including granite,
marble and ivory
Quick and easy installation
Ease and speed of installation add to the
appeal of laminate flooring. Where
installation of real wood is typically left to
professionals because of the time-consiuning
process to ^ue or nail planks, laminates can
often be installed' over a weekend and put
directly on top of any existing floor (except
carpet).
Most laminates simply click together,
making them ideal for do-it-yourselfers.
“C3ick” laminate floors feature tongue-and-
groove edges that snap-together easily and
tightly without the need for glue. Durable
and hassle-fi:ee, click floors can be used
confid^tly in any room of the home - even
moisture-prone areas like kitchens and
bathrooms, thanks to new dual-locking joint
technologies.
Tbp-grade laminates, like those fix)m Pergo,
are attractively priced around $2 to $4 per
square foot (uninstalled), compared with $4
to $6 for solid wood. But the real savii^ is
in the installation. Because laminate floors
are so easy to install, many consumers can do
it themsdves saviig both money and time.
Pergo laminate flooring is available
through specialty retailers as well as at The
Home Depot and Lowe’s. For more
information, visit www.pergo.com or call
(800) 33-PERGO.
Redwood
fencing has
many uses
ARTICLE RESOURCE ASSOCIATION
When you build a redwood fence, it's
almost always because of a specific need.
You need to keep the dog in the yard. You
need a boundary between your house and
the street.
You need a tad more privacy How you
build your fence is a matter of taste.
Pedwocxi fences range in design fir^m the
practical to the elegant. Redwood is the
material of choice for these fences because
it’s durable, it looks good and it resists
warping, spHtting and checking.
Redwood’s beauty and long-lasting
qualities are built in and natural, unlike
synthetic and treated materials.
Whether they’re practical or more
elegant, most fences are variations on a
simple structure involving posts, rails and
fence boards. The post and rail support
structure is made of standard dimension
lumber, while fence boards of different
shapes and sizes give a fence its individual
stjie. There are many standard designs to
choose fiiDm.
Solid board feices provide mayimnm
privacy Alternating board and board
designs are known as “good neighbor”
fences because they look the same fixim
either side. Lacy lattice screens are ideal
for climbing plants. Classic picket fences
make atb-active boundary markers.
You’ll find lots of great sources for fence
design ideas. First of all, you can drive
around your neighborhood. Unlike decks,
which are usually hidden in back yards,
you can see feices from the street. You can
find fence plans in books at the hbrary or
your local home center, and there are often
articles in how-to magazines. The
California Redwood Association offers a
booklet on fence design called ‘Tfedwood
Fences for All Reasons.”
In addition to the design, the materials
you choose are important and help
determine whether your fence is in the
practical category or the elegant category
Most utilitarian redwood fences are bvult
with knot-textured “garden grades” of
redwood. These rugged grades are
economical and provide the best
combination of performance and value.
More elegant fences use better grades of
redwood. Some hi^-stjie fences make
great use of other materials for design
accents. For example, ceramic ornaments,
oxidized copper or other metal elements
can give your fence a one-of-a-kind
distinction.
It is important to use non-corrosive nails
and hardware to avoid unsightly stains.
Stainless steel, aluminum or top quality
hot-dipped galvanized hardware is
required. When you complete your project,
you mi^t decide to use a water repellent
finish to protect the redwood from rain and
sun. However, redwood is one of the few
woods that perform well without a finish.
So it’s your choice — apply a finish or leave
the fence to weather naturally
If you want an elegant fence that’s a
work of art in your yard, you may want to
contact a pro to design and build it for you.
If you’re interested in a practical no-
nonsense fence and want to save money
you may want to build it youi^elf.
REAL ESTATE / CLASSIFIEDS / REAL ESTATE/ CLASSIFIEDS
FOR RENT
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Pitts Drive
Directions: Turn onto Tate Street from Beatties Ford Road
1/4 mile north of Brookshire Blvd. We accept Section 8 Vouchers!
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^ * , 704-334-1940
Crosland
Mon. - Fri. 8:30 - 6:00
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Newly Renovated
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Call 704-394-9394 Ext 13
Ask for Ms Perry
Place Your Property Listings in The Charlotte Post
Classifieds for
only $18.00 per column inch or just $1.05 per word.
Hp '
JllLiL
Call 704-376-0494 ext 104
NOW
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‘Westside’s Best Kept Secret.
Ask About
The Summer Special
Judy Williams, Manager
704-333-2966
Village Of Buena Vista
$199 Move In Special
* Conditions Apply
Now Leasing 1, 2, & 3 Bedroom
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CALL TODAY
before they are gone!
4929 Tuckaseegee Road
704-392-9944
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