2011 martin county - home & garden

Redecorating IdeasFloral Tips

Interior Design PlansGardening Checklist

Reconstruction

Redecorating IdeasFloral Tips

Interior Design PlansGardening Checklist

ReconstructionHOMEGARDENHOMEGARDEN

Spring 2011

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MARTIN COUNTY — A beautifulshowcase house at 4169 S.E. Old St.Lucie Blvd., Stuart, has been drawingthrongs of do-it-yourself designerslooking for inspiration for at-home

projects.Sixteen professionals turned Calypso

Palms, the home of cardiologist Lau-rence Watkins and his wife, Tessa, intoa show piece from Feb. 26 throughMarch 18 for a fundraiser to benefit theChildren’s Home Society.

But the pros say they used some sim-

ple touches to bring sparkle and charmto each room.

“Designers come up with some pret-ty creative things,” said Candy John-son, the Stuart-based decorator withPatty Downing Interiors, who led theproject.

Stephanie Ferguson, for instance,added to the house’s tropical theme bycreating intricate handmade designsusing shells in the mirror and head-board in the master bedroom.

And Christopher Jonathan, ofChristopher Jonathan Designs in Stu-art and Palm City, elegantly addedcolor by draping material along thewalls of the theater room, using a tech-nique that was both esthetically pleas-ing and boosted the room’s acoustics.

“Very few people have a theaterroom as big as the one in the designershowcase house, but some of theessential elements could work in anyhome,” said publicist Angie Francalan-cia.

One of the room’s small touches, apopcorn machine, brings a smile toguests’ faces and is a nod to a true

movie-going experience.“More than anything, the way it’s

been done, this house is casual, color-ful and easy for a lot of people to relateto it,” Ms. Johnson said.

“Last year’s showcase house wasgrand and great Gatsbyish because ofthe era in which it was built. This one isvery tropical and fun, and I think that’sthe way most of us around here live orwould like to live.”

Designers were on hand to give per-sonal tours, show guests before-and-after comparisons of the rooms andprovide insider tips.

Joining Ms. Johnson, Ms. Fergusonand Mr. Jonathan were designers KerryAllabastro, Patty Downing, DorisClements, Lynne Fensterer, MichaelFlaugh, Caron Kelly, Francesca Mor-gan, Susan Morgan, Janet Plitt, AngiePoag, Susan Thompson, Mary Washerand Meg Winter.

“The fallacy is that people believethey can’t afford an interior designer,when the reality is that an interiordesigner will prevent them from mak-ing costly mistakes,” Ms. Johnson said.

2 MARTIN COUNTYHOMETOWN NEWS Friday, March 25, 2011HOME & GARDEN

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3MARTIN COUNTYHOMETOWN NEWSFriday, March 25, 2011 HOME & GARDEN

Fresh flowers for springIt’s springtime andthat means trips toarea garden storesto pick up yourfavorite flowers.

File art

The pros are good coaches when itcomes to making furniture size selec-tions, working with contractors duringconstruction and getting creative with-use of space.

“Otherwise, most people are justguessing,” she said.

At Calypso Palms, the designers cre-ated an intriguing use of window treat-ments, draping the patio and using

panels to create a soft, breezy feel. Thevalance in the breakfast area is a pretty,handmade papier-mâché artwork.

The paint choices were bold, withthe designers steering clear of mutedcolors, which they say fade quickly insunny climates.

They opted instead for turquois,greens, blues and coral hues that flowthroughout the house.

“In the southern climate, you can getaway with it, because of the sun inten-sity,” Ms. Johnson said. “It works reallywell.”

ShowcaseFrom page 2

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Controlling termites is no easy taskOne of the most often over-

looked procedures for ahomeowner is inspecting for

termites. With spring and summer season

upon us, you may see these peskybugs swarming out of dead logs orstumps.

Although it is always recommendedyou have a professional check forthese damaging pests, there are a fewthings you can do yourself in betweenprofessional visits.

There are essentially two majorcategories of termites: subterraneanand dry wood termites.

There are a few things you can doyourself for subterranean termites,but dry wood termites almost alwayswill call for a professional evaluation.

Subterranean termites cannot livevery long when exposed to air.

For protection, they build mudtunnels to shield themselves from air.These tunnels can be a sure sign ofinfestation, if you see them runningalong your concrete slab from the soil

to the house structure itself. Oftentimes, these tunnels can be

hidden, especially if you have cracksin the foundation of the house.

Another factor you need to look forare loose wings lying around thehouse. This is often an indication ofan infestation within your home.

Another sure sign of an infestationare swarms of flying termites locatedwithin your home.

Flying termites look similar toharmless flying ants with somedistinct differences.

Flying ants have bodies that areseparated by segments.

Winged termites have bodies thatare shorter and non-segmented.

In addition, flying ants have front

wings that are longer than the backwings, while termites have both pairsof wings the same size.

In addition to dry wood andsubterranean varieties, there is alsothe Formosan termite.

Similar to the subterranean, theseinsects invade your home from theground up. The big difference is thisvariety is more aggressive.

They have been known to travelthrough concrete to obtain food!

If you suspect you have any of theseinfestations in your home, seekprofessional service help immediate-ly. The sooner you act, the lesschance you have of major damage.

If you know your home is termitefree, there are a few steps you cantake to ward off a future infestation.

If you go to your local gardencenter, you will find several productson the shelf that are rated for killingtermites on contact.

Usually, these products will giveyou two mixing methods. One is forgeneral use, where you might only

use an ounce or less per gallon. Theother method is what is required fortermites. You might have to use asmuch as 10 ounces for a gallon ofwater.

You must follow all label directionscarefully if you are going to do thisyourself. Plastic gloves and gogglesare a must.

You can apply the solution with anall-purpose sprayer or a sprinklingcan. I prefer the sprinkling canmethod.

The areas you want to treat includethe perimeter of your house, alongwith any wooden deck areas that youmight have.

Be sure to treat the individualfootings of your deck structure. Thismethod will only help if you haveaccess to the soil around the house.

If you have areas of concreteadjoining the home, the only solutionis using a professional, so they canget the chemicals under the sidewalk

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or concrete slab. Please remember this is only

preventive maintenance for inbetween professional examinationsand these treatments will be shortlived.

For long-term prevention for up tofive years, a professional applicationwill be needed.

In summary, an initial professional

evaluation is always best. Often youcan get termite checks for free.

If you suspect an infestation, donot try to treat it yourself. Hire aprofessional.

If you do decide to do any workyourself, be sure to follow all safetyprecautions, as these chemicals canbe dangerous.

Joe Zelenak has 28 years experiencein gardening and landscape. Send e-mails [email protected] or visithis Web sitewww.hometowngarden.com.

NookFrom page 4

State seeks alternate water supplies

TREASURE COAST — It’s easy totake water for granted. Without givingit much thought, you just turn on thefaucet and out it flows.

More than 3 billion gallons of waterare used every day in central andsouthern Florida by 7.5 million resi-dents and by millions of visitors fordrinking and bathing, watering lawns,growing crops and servicing indus-tries.

With increasing water demands, theregion’s traditional freshwater sourcesmay not be enough to inexpensivelymeet all future water needs. Theselimited resources include under-ground freshwater aquifers and lakesthat rely on rainfall to replenish thesupply.

The most effective way to addressthis challenge is through water-supply

planning, conservation and develop-ing and using alternative water sup-plies to supplement the traditionalwater supply, to ensure the state’swater future.

Some examples of alternative watersupplies include:

Saline water sources and reverseosmosis treatment.

Using brackish (salty) water fromdeeper aquifers for drinking water

Storing water in an aquifer systemwhen there is excess water and recov-ering the stored water during drytimes when it is needed

Using reclaimed, treated water forirrigating residential lots, golf coursesand other green spaces and forgroundwater recharge and industrialuses

In 2005, the Florida Legislature tookextraordinary action to give clear

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Cecil Melton of Stuart gets a demon-stration in ‘green’ insulation designfrom Jack Hicks, president of 27 Northduring the Martin County Home Showearlier this month.

Mitch Kloorfainchief photographer

guidance and create powerful newplanning tools to tackle long-termwater supply issues.

Senate Bills 360 and 444 changed andstrengthened the link between regionalwater supply planning and local govern-ment comprehensive land use planning.The landmark legislation requires localgovernments in the region to ensure:

• Water-supply facilities are consistentwith water management district water-supply plans.

• Water resources are available tomatch growth.

• Future water sources must notimpact natural systems.

• Alternative water-supply programsare developed and used.

This stronger link ensures adequate

water supply is available before resi-dents move into new developments.

Through technical and funding assis-tance, the South Florida Water Manage-ment District is helping local govern-ments meet these state requirementsand protect water resources.

To match projected water use deter-mined in water-supply plans with actualwater use, the South Florida Water Man-agement District issues permits thatdetermine how much water city andcounty utilities and other large users areallowed to withdraw from the sharedunderground water reserves.

The SFWMD is not the agency respon-sible for delivering or treating the waterused in homes or businesses.

For questions about a water bill orrates, water pressure or drinking waterquality, contact your city or county. Thesame is true for sewage treatment ques-tions.

WaterFrom page 5

District center takes care ofarea water needs, concerns

TREASURE COAST — The Martin/St.Lucie South Florida Water Manage-ment District service center facilitatespartnerships with local governmentsand community groups, providesdirect and responsive access to agencyfunctions, implements South FloridaWater Management District-wide andlocal water resource initiatives and cre-ates a better understanding of localwater resource issues through outreachand education activities.

Responsibilities include managingmore than $20 million annually in localprojects designed to improve water

quality and habitat in the St. LucieEstuary and Indian River Lagoon.

The service area for this officeincludes all of Martin and St. Luciecounties.

Staff work in administration, plan-ning, environmental permitting, con-sumptive water use permitting, right-of-way permitting and operations andmaintenance.

Tasks related to the comprehensiveEverglades restoration plan projectmanagement are also conducted inthis office.

The center is located at 780 S.E. Indi-an St. in Stuart. For more information,call (772) 223-2600.


Getting a consult at the home show


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Food preparation, safetyChef Rodney Taber hawks kitchen-ware at the Martin County HomeShow earlier this month, while alsocovering the rules of food preparationand safety in the home.

Mitch Kloorfainchief photographer

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Photo courtesy of Terry PiccioloTerry Picciolo, Dawn Snyder and Mark Hill are shown at the Humane Society of The Treasure Coast’s thrift store in Stuart.

Thrift stores offer valuable decorating alternatives

MARTIN COUNTY — With 35 centsand the help of the sewing circle at AllSaints Episcopal Church, Jo Neesonconverted a towel set she bought atthe thrift store into a handmade bath-

room curtain that looked like it cost$25 at a retail outlet.

“If you know how to shop the thriftstores, you can get stuff for dirtcheap,” said Ms. Neeson, a churchemployee who said the sewing group,which operates next door to All Saints’thrift shop, will make alterations for

customers who offer a donation to thenonprofit.

Thrift store customers and opera-tors say the shops offer unbeatableprices for bargain hunters.

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By Samantha [email protected]

See THRIFT, 10

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10MARTIN COUNTYHOMETOWN NEWS Friday, March 25, 2011HOME & GARDEN

ager Terry Picciolo said the savviestcustomers think of nontraditional usesfor everyday items.

One idea: Instead of using a basketas a decorative, hang it on a bathroomwall to hold towels and make extraspace in a small room.

With an economic downturn forcingmany Martin County residents intosmaller homes, thrift stores have ben-efitted from an increase in donationsand sales.

The Humane Society’s shop has seena 20 percent increase in sales andinventory in the last year, with volun-teers placing new items on the salesfloor daily.

“People are doing things to still havea creative space, even though it mightbe smaller,” Ms. Picciolo said. “They’retrying to make less go further, and

shopping through the thrift stores isone way to do that.”

The store’s most in-demand item isthe pullout sofa. Customers also comefor large pieces of furniture, entireroom sets or knickknacks, administra-tors said.

For those looking to make smallchanges to a room, Marge James, whomanages All Saints Church’s store, rec-ommended purchasing framed art orpictures. Her best tip: the store carriesseveral inexpensive pieces, so cus-tomers should focus on the frame,even if they don’t like the artwork.

“You can always swap the picturewith one you like,” she said.

And be persistent when looking for aspecial item, thrift store managerssaid.

“When we put out a nice piece offurniture, it’s hardly even there a day.We have a large number of walk-through customers and they comeevery day,” Ms. Picciolo said. “They dothat because they know we put out

something new every day.”Thrift-store operators also suggest

looking for ideas in home decoratingmagazines, then finding bargainoptions.

“Sometimes, it might take a littleglue and a nail or a hammer to makethings look perfect, but it’s worth it.Our customers do it all the time. Thereare so many things here to see,” Ms.Picciolo said.

For Ms. Neeson, a trip to the thriftstore is as much about saving moneyas it is about supporting nonprofitsand picking up unique finds.

“Things are so expensive when you

go to the store,” she said. “But at thethrift store, people keep bringing innew items all the time, and you neverknow what you’re going to find. It’s likea treasure hunt.”

All Saints Episcopal Church’s thriftstore is located at 2303 N.E. SeaviewDrive, Jensen Beach. For more informa-tion, contact Marge James on (772)334-0228.

The Humane Society’s store is locatedat 2585 S.E. Federal Highway, next toPerkins restaurant, two blocks South ofMonterrey Road. For more information,call (772) 286-6909.

ThriftFrom page 9

“When we put out a nice piece of furniture, it’s hardly even therea day.”

Terry PiccoloManager, Humane Society’s thrift store

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Solar can meansavings

TREASURE COAST — As energybills continue to rise, more peopleare turning to solar energy. They arefinding it is beneficial, not only forthe environment, but for the pocket-book, as well.

While solar energy units are moreexpensive than their regular counter-parts, the savings is made up in thereduction of a homeowner’s electricbill.

Solar air conditioners and waterheaters have been shown to reducecooling and heating bills in the home.

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home to absorb energy through sun-light. With some solar water heaters,fluid is heated in the panels andtransferred to the water heater.

With solar air conditioners, energyis absorbed through the panels as aDC current, then converted to an ACcurrent to be used inside the house.

Area governments and businessesare helping to stretch buying dollaras well.

For instance, solar energy systemshave been exempt from Florida’ssales and use tax since July 1997.

Some examples of upgrades thatcan be made include weatheriza-tion, insulating, caulking or windowand door replacement, replacementof inefficient air-conditioning sys-tems; and adding solar thermal and

solar photovoltaic systems.Not only do upgrades help with

monthly electric bills, they will alsohelp at tax time.

According to IRS.gov, the there isno limitation on the credit amount ahomeowner can take for qualifiedsolar property costs, includinginstalling solar electric and solarwater heating, small wind energycosts and qualified geothermal heatpump property costs.

Florida Power and Light has a res-idential energy efficiency program,which offers rebates to residentialcustomers who replace their heatpump or air conditioning systemswith more efficient ones, add ceilinginsulation or complete a duct-sys-tem test on their homes.

For a list of all the incentives onenergy savings costs from differentlevels of government, from federal tolocal, go to www.dsireusa.org.

SolarFrom page 12

Water managers urge conservation

TREASURE COAST — As below-average rainfall causes water levelsacross central and south Florida tocontinue declining, the South FloridaWater Management District govern-ing board took action to protectregional water supplies.

A water-shortage warning approvedby the governing board encouragesresidents and businesses throughoutthe district’s 16-county region to vol-untarily reduce water use.

“With water levels falling and thepeak of the dry season yet to come,we must take every prudent precau-tion,” said Tommy Strowd, SFWMDdeputy executive director of opera-tions and maintenance.

“The actions are a step toward safe-guarding the regional water supply

against the effects of an alreadyrecord-setting dry season. We are ask-ing South Florida’s residents andbusinesses to do their part to help theregion cope with extreme dry condi-tions by reducing their water use, asthey have done in the past,” he said.

The governing board action followsthe driest October-to-February peri-od since district recordkeeping began80 years ago.

To protect water resources, conser-vation measures now in placeinclude:

• Residents are being asked toincrease water conservation effortsand continue following year-roundlandscape irrigation measures. Thewarning does not apply to indoorwater use or car or boat washing.

• A water shortage warning issued


See CONSERVATION, 14

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in November for the Lake Okee-chobee service area, Lake Istokpogaand Indian Prairie Basin remains inplace. The warning calls for permittedwater users — mostly agriculturalusers — to reduce water use throughvoluntary limits.

The SFWMD will continue to moni-tor water levels to determine if addi-tional steps need to be taken in thecoming weeks.

Low rainfall and dry conditions aredistrict-wide. Rainfall for Februaryregistered 0.34 inches for a deficit of1.93 inches, or only 15 percent of thehistoric average for the month. This isthe third-driest February in the dis-trict’s 16-county region.

None of the basins in the district

received more than 29 percent oftheir historical average rainfall inFebruary. February continued a drytrend that began with a record rainfalldeficit in October, which signaled anearly start to the 2010-11 dry season,along with moderate strength

La Niña is a weather phenomenonthat often generates below-averagerainfall during the dry season.

From October through February,the district has received a total of 5.69inches, less than half the averagerainfall for that five-month period, or6.46 inches below average.

Lake Okeechobee is currently at11.92 feet above sea level — morethan 2 feet below the historical aver-age for this time of year — and isdropping rapidly.

Rainfall in the first week of Marchprovided a negligible reprieve. With-out significant rainfall in the comingweeks, lake levels are expected to dra-

matically decline as temperatures riseand evapotranspiration ratesincrease.

The South Florida Water Manage-ment District’s comprehensive waterconservation program was approvedby the governing board in September2008 to encourage more consistentuse of water resources throughoutSouth Florida.

Numerous stakeholders workedwith the district to define specific reg-ulatory, voluntary, incentive-basededucation and marketing programsthat will help foster a year-round con-servation ethic.

The program includes year-roundlandscape irrigation conservationmeasures that took effect in March2010.

Links to information about irriga-tion limits by area, current conditionsand water-savings tips are available atwww.sfwmd.gov/waterwatch.

More information is available at:• SFWMD weather/rainfall data• National Weather Service dry sea-

son forecast• Climate prediction center FAQ on

La Niña• Climate prediction center precipi-

tation forecast

The South Florida Water Manage-ment District is a regional, govern-mental agency that oversees the waterresources in the southern half of thestate, 16 counties from Orlando to theKeys. It is the oldest and largest of thestate’s five water management dis-tricts. The agency’s mission is to man-age and protect water resources of theregion by balancing and improvingwater quality, flood control, naturalsystems and water supply. A key initia-tive is cleanup and restoration of theEverglades.

ConservationFrom page 13

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State seeks alternatewater supplies

TREASURE COAST — It’s easy totake water for granted. Without giv-ing it much thought, you just turnon the faucet and out it flows.

More than 3 billion gallons ofwater are used every day in centraland southern Florida by 7.5 millionresidents and by millions of visitorsfor drinking and bathing, wateringlawns, growing crops and servicingindustries.

With increasing water demands,the region’s traditional freshwatersources may not be enough to inex-pensively meet all future waterneeds. These limited resourcesinclude underground freshwateraquifers and lakes that rely on rain-fall to replenish the supply.

The most effective way to addressthis challenge is through water sup-ply planning, conservation and thedeveloping and using alternativewater supplies to supplement thetraditional water supply, to ensurethe state’s water future.

Some examples of alternativewater supply include:

Saline water sources and reverseosmosis treatment.

Using brackish (salty) water fromdeeper aquifers for drinking water

Aquifer storage and recovery.Storing water in an aquifer systemwhen there is excess water andrecovering the stored water duringdry times when it is needed

Reclaimed water use. Using reclaimed, treated water for

irrigating residential lots, golfcourses and other green spaces andfor groundwater recharge andindustrial uses

In 2005, the Florida Legislaturetook extraordinary action to giveclear guidance and create powerfulnew planning tools to tackle long-term water supply issues.

Senate Bills 360 and 444 changedand strengthened the link betweenregional water supply planning and

local government comprehensiveland use planning. The landmarklegislation requires local govern-ments in the region to ensure:

• Water supply facilities are con-sistent with water management dis-trict water supply plans.

• Water resources are available tomatch growth.

• Future water sources must notimpact natural systems.

• Alternative water-supply pro-grams are developed and used.

This stronger link ensures ade-quate water supply is availablebefore residents move into newdevelopments.

Through technical and fundingassistance, the South Florida WaterManagement District is helpinglocal governments meet these staterequirements and protect waterresources.

To match projected water usedetermined in water- supply planswith actual water use, the SouthFlorida Water Management Districtissues permits that determine howmuch water city and county utilitiesand other large users are allowed towithdraw from the shared under-ground water reserves.

The SFWMD is not the agencyresponsible for delivering or treat-ing the water used in homes orbusinesses.

For questions about a water bill orrates, water pressure or drinkingwater quality, contact your city orcounty. The same is true for sewagetreatment questions.

District center takes care ofarea water needs, concerns

TREASURE COAST — TheMartin/St. Lucie South Florida WaterManagement District service centerfacilitates partnerships with localgovernments and community groups,provides direct and responsive accessto agency functions, implementsSouth Florida Water ManagementDistrict-wide and local waterresource initiatives and creates a bet-ter understanding of local waterresource issues through outreach andeducation activities.

Responsibilities include managingmore than $20 million annually inlocal projects designed to improve

water quality and habitat in the St.Lucie Estuary and Indian RiverLagoon.

The service area for this officeincludes all of Martin and St. Luciecounties.

Staff work in administration, plan-ning, environmental permitting, con-sumptive water use permitting, right-of-way permitting and operationsand maintenance.

Tasks related to the comprehensiveEverglades restoration plan projectmanagement are also conducted inthis office.

The center is located at 780 S.E.Indian St. in Stuart. For more infor-mation, call (772) 223-2600.

Use kitchen appliances wiselyIf your kitchen is the heart of your

home and you want to keep it thatway, check out these tips from FP&Lon how to operate common kitchenappliances more economically.

The third largest energy user in ahome is the refrigerator/freezer. Tocut down on costs:

• Avoid using multiple refrigeratorsor freezers. An extra refrigerator thatis hardly used can cost up to $100 ayear.

• Keep your freezer full. Food catch-es and stores cold air, reducing theworkload of your freezer.

• Reduce the amount of escapingcold air by opening the door once toget all your items.

• Buying a new, energy-efficientrefrigerator can save a lot of energyand money. When shopping for a newone:

Select the right size. Larger refriger-ators may cost more to run.

Compare features and energy use.Side-by-side models use more energythan top and bottom models.

Compare operating costs using theEnergyGuide label.

A dishwasher consumes one-thirdless hot water than hand washing, sousing the dishwasher saves youmoney. Additional ways to save are:

• Avoid pre-rinsing dishes in hotwater. Use the rinse cycle until it’stime to clean a full load.

• Use the energy-saving cycle toshorten the run time and save gallonsof water.

• Run your dishwasher with a fullload and use the air dry option, ifavailable.

When buying a new dishwasher:Compare features. Look for models

that are Energy Star compliant andoffer energy-saving features.

Compare operating costs using theEnergyGuide label.

Consider water use. More than 80percent of the energy used by dish-washers is for heating the water, solook for models that use less water.

Energy use and efficiency are deter-mined by your cooking habits. Whenshopping for a new stove or oven, buythe model that best suits you. Hereare some general tips:

• Cook with a toaster oven ormicrowave. They use less energy thanthe oven, and add less heat to yourkitchen.

• Use the self-cleaning cycle onyour oven for major cleaning jobsonly and start it when the oven isalready hot.

• Plan out your cooking so that sev-eral items can cook in the oven at thesame time.

• Lower the heat on your stovetopafter food reaches a boil.

For more, go to www.fpl.com.


For Hometown [email protected] increasing water demands,

the region’s traditional freshwa-ter sources may not be enoughto inexpensively meet all futurewater needs.

www.fpl.com


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DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen Gives NewHomeowner Picture Perfect Bathroom

Samara and Ian McNair knew their dated bathroom (top) would have to be remodeled.DreamMaker helped them design and remodel it into a dream bathroom.

772-288-6255www.dreammaker-Stuart.com

BEFORE

AFTER

By Jenet KrolFor Hometown News

When Samara and IanMcNair moved into their newhome in Tequesta, they feltthe design of their bathroomfell a bit short – literally.“The home was custom builtfor a very short woman,” saidMrs. McNair. “So we decidedto gut the entire bathroomand start from scratch.”They turned to DreamMakerBath & Kitchen, a full-serviceremodeling company thatworks on kitchens and bath-rooms.Mrs. McNair said she hadbeen looking at companiesbased out of Ft. Lauderdaleand Miami, but wanted togive a local company theirbusiness.“I also liked that the ownerwas a custom homebuilderfor more than 25 years,” saidMrs. McNair.Ed Gribben, president andowner of the Stuart branch ofthe national franchise, visit-ed the McNair’s home to getan idea of what they wantedtheir bathroom to look like.After hearing their ideas fortransforming their all-whitebathroom, he created a three-dimensional computer-gener-

ated view of what it couldlook like.The next step in the processwas for the McNairs to visitthe DreamMaker design cen-ter and pick out the fixturesfor their bathroom, fromtheir showers and sinks,down to the knobs on theircabinets.“We are locally-owned but wehave national buying poweron cabinetry, plumbing fix-tures, ceramic tiles – basical-ly anything to do with a bathor kitchen,” said Mr.Gribben. For example, one of the cabi-net lines has more than64,000 choices.The McNairs had a lot tochoose but DreamMaker’sdesign center made it easy.They replaced everythingfrom the flooring and showerfixtures, to lights, vanitiesand fixtures.Although it was a total over-haul, the project only tookthree weeks, something Ms.McNair said she appreciatedthe most.“They didn’t start demolish-ing the bathroom until theyhad everything they needed,so we didn’t have to live with-out cabinets or a toilet formonths,” she said.

When the project was com-pleted, the white Formicaand white tiled bathroom hadbeen transformed into an“old-world” style room.Slightly distressed dark cher-ry cabinets, a sandy-coloredtravertine stone floor, oilrubbed bronze fixtures, adouble shower, heatedJacuzzi tub and vessel sinkscreated a warm feeling in theroom, said Mr. Gribben.As well as being thrilled withher new bathroom, Mrs.McNair said she was shockedthat she had absolutely noclean-up.Mr. Gribben said that’s justpart of their full service.“We clean up the whole houseif that needs to be done. Wetry to leave the job like it’snever been touched. We wantit to be sparkling brand newand clean.”The McNairs said they areenjoying their new bathroomand couldn’t be happier withthe service they got.“(DreamMaker) is extremelyprofessional. They knowwhat they are doing and arevery efficient,” said Mrs.McNair.Mr. Gribben, whose fatherwas a general contractor andgrandfather was a carpenter,

said he’s been in thisbusiness for the past34 years because ofthe satisfaction hegets from a job well-done.“When you’re doing aremodel you can see anonfunctional or out-dated bath or kitchenget completely trans-formed in as little as

two to three weeks.Seeing somethingthat really revolu-tionizes a client’shouse is rewarding.”For more informationon DreamMaker, visitwww.dreammaker-stuart.com or call (772) 288-6255.


Make energy improvement part of remodeling planRenovating or remodeling a home

can present many challenges, one ofwhich is improving its energy efficiency.

Older homes tend to be less energyefficient than newer ones and the mainculprits are heating and air-condition-ing systems, water heaters, older appli-ances and poorly insulated roofs andceilings.

Now that you know what to look for,reducing your electric bill is only a mat-ter of planning. Make energy-efficientimprovements part of your renovationor remodeling project.

There are many ways to make yourhome more energy efficient and FPLcan help make them easier and moreaffordable through a variety of pro-grams and rebates.

Remodeling and renovating withenergy efficiency in mind not only savesmoney but also helps the environment

Here are some tips to help with yourremodeling project:

Seal in savings with duct system test-ing, repairs

Leaky ducts can cause your electricbill to increase.

In fact, two-thirds of all homes haveleaky ducts. To combat leaky duct ener-gy loss, FPL representatives can visityour home and test your duct system. Ifrepairs are needed, you might be enti-tled to an FPL rebate.

The first central air-conditioning sys-

tem inspection costs $30 and $15 foreach additional air handler.

You’ll get a detailed repair reportalong with a list of FPL participatingindependent contractors who are quali-fied to make required repairs

There may also be rebates available tohelp cover the cost of repairs

Before purchasing a new air-condi-tioning unit

If your air conditioner is more than 10years old, needs frequent repairs andstill does not keep your home cool, itmight be time to replace it with a newhigh-efficiency unit.

Before buying, consider the followingoptions:

Get expert advice and information onwhat to look for during the buyingprocess

• A selection of Participating Inde-pendent Contractors*

• Substantial FPL rebates to help payfor your new unit

Improve your home’s energy efficien-cy

With FPL’s Building Envelope pro-gram, you can get incentives for addingroof and ceiling insulation, as well asadding reflective roofing products.

Adding insulation to your home canreduce heating and cooling costs, espe-cially if your home was built before1982.

Upgrading to at least R-19 insulation

makes you eligible to receive up to $300in FPL incentives.

An FPL energy expert can measureyour home’s insulation levels and deter-mine if you’re eligible for a rebate, and ifso, what that amount will be.

Reflective roofingIf you are considering replacing your

old roof with a new one, FPL can helppay for it, provided it meets minimumsolar reflectance standards. You caneven improve the efficiency of yourexisting cement tile or flat roof withFPL’s reflective roof program

• An FPL participating independentcontractor can determine your home’seligibility, your rebate amount, and caninstall the new reflective roof product

Electric savings guaranteedWith FPL’s On Call® program you

save up to $137 a year when you allowFPL to cycle off select equipment forbrief periods of time. All it requires is

your permission to install an energymanagement device that may occasion-ally control this equipment.

Typically, FPL does not activate theprogram during nights, weekends orholidays. It is normally implemented inearly to late afternoons during summerand usually happens three to four timesa year, only when it’s absolutely neces-sary.

On Call:• Helps control electrical demand

during peak periods or emergency situ-ations

• Cancel the program at any time,without obligation or penalty and youget to keep all existing credits you’veearned

For more, go to www.FPL.com/duct orcall (800) 342-5375.

To see if tax credits are availabletoward your home improvement proj-ect, visit www.energystar.gov/taxcredits.

There are many ways to make your home more energy efficientand FPL can help make them easier and more affordablethrough a variety of programs and rebates.

Information available at www.FPL.com

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2011 martin county - home & garden

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