Washington County Weekend Post

GMTODAY.COM SUNDAY, MARCH 21, 2021 • WASHINGTON COUNTY POST • 3A 2021 Fish Fry Dining and Carryout Guide Home improvement pro- jects ramp up when the weather warms up, as home- owners channel the rejuve- nating feelings of spring and tackle their home to-do lists. Large-scale renova- tions can greatly affect a home, but smaller projects can yield impressive results and be completed over the course of a single weekend. If time is of the essence, these weekend or one-day projects may satisfy home- owners' desires to fix up their homes. • Create an accent wall. Painting a focal wall in a home can create a seri- ous impact. The bonus is it will not take as long or require as many materials as painting an entire room. Accent walls frequently fea- ture a bold color, so decide on placement and tackle this project in less than a day. • Install stair runners. Dress up hardwood stairs with decorative carpet run- ners. Runners come in elon- gated pieces of carpeting or individual pieces that can be placed on each step. If carpeting doesn't fit with the home's design, painting individual stair treads also can create visual appeal. • Dress up the entry- way. An entryway is a guest's first impression of a home. Many entryways can use a minor overhaul, both inside and outside. Paint the front door a different color so it pops from the curb. Install a new mailbox or dec- orative house numbers. A new welcome mat can change the look as well. Inside, consider laying a new floor. Resilient vinyl tiles come in many different patterns and can mimic the look of wood, travertine or marble. Installing a floor can take a day or two. • Install a new faucet. Instantly improve a kitchen or a bathroom with new fix- tures. New faucets can pro- vide aesthetic appeal and low-flow faucets can help conserve water. • Create a gallery on the staircase. Gather and arrange framed photos, art- work or wall accents so that they ascend the wall of a staircase. This creates a designer touch and can dress up an often barren area of wall space. • Install a fresh light fixture. Improve drab spaces with a little illumina- tion. Better Homes & Gar- dens suggests replacing an existing fixture with some- thing new and vibrant. If hanging a new fixture is not within one's skill set, free- standing table or floor lamps also can cast a new glow on a space. • Add molding. Molding can add instant aesthetic appeal to a room. Molding is appropriate near the floor, at the top of walls where they meet the ceiling, or even mid-wall as a chair rail. Some homeowners like to create framed molding on walls in formal living spaces. • Update kitchen or bathroom hardware. Replacing hardware is a fast and easy project, but one that can have immediate impact. Swap out tired or outdated hardware for newer brushed metals and more impactful shapes and designs. Home renovations do not need to take weeks or months. Many projects can be completed over the course of a weekend. Complete these home improvements over the weekend Baking is a beloved tra- dition in many families. Though family baking ses- sions tend to be especially popular during the holiday season, there's nothing stop- ping families from breaking out the flour and having some fun in the kitchen at any time of year. Fun is the focus when families bake together, and the following are some ways to make such sessions enjoy- able for everyone. • Encourage input. The designated family baker may have a host of go-to recipes up his or her sleeve, and baking such specialties might be a necessity on birthdays or during the holi- day season. But all baking sessions need not be be- holden to family favorites. Encourage all family mem- bers to recommend recipes prior to family baking ses- sions, even allowing a differ- ent person to choose the recipe each time. This can make the whole family enthusiastic about baking together and may even help families discover some new foods. • Remember that patience is a virtue. Fami- ly baking sessions require patience, especially when young children are involved. Kids' attention spans may wane or they may grow upset if they spill some ingredients. Remain patient at such times and let kids know making a mess is part of the fun of baking togeth- er. • Simplify sessions as necessary. Baking with toddlers and school-aged youngsters is going to be dif- ferent than doing so along- side preteens and adoles- cents. In addition, consider kids' maturity levels when planning family baking ses- sions, as some youngsters might be more than capable of following more challeng- ing recipes. Making sure kids are given age-appropri- ate tasks or jobs on par with their maturity levels is a great way to keep sessions fun and prevent frustration. • Share the baking bounty. Kids will be proud of their creations and want to share them, and that will ensure they're excited about the next family baking ses- sion. When baking with the family, keep the focus on fun so everyone has a great time while baking some tasty treats. Keep the focus on fun during family baking sessions

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