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HOMES PLUS JUNE 2014 10 2 3 8 5 8 2 0 0 1 WE PAY TOP PRICES, CASH PAID! DISCOVER WHY RECYCLING PAYS Waukesha 1001 Tesch Court, Waukesha 262-574-0100 www.alliedresourcerecovery.com • Aluminum Cans • Cast Aluminum • Extruded Aluminum • Sheet Aluminum • Stainless Steel • Auto Motors (without oil, pan, filters, free of all fluids) • Lead • Cast Iron • Die Cast • Brass • Steel • Copper • Carbide • Aluminum/ Copper Radiators • Aluminum Siding • Insulated Wire Hwy. 164 Hwy 59 (Greenfield Ave.) Arcadian Ave. Tesch Ct. N 238042007 The Waukesha Recycling Co. A Division of Allied Resource Recovery, INC. Serving Wisconsin and the Midwest for over 75 years Spruce up your patio for gatherings SPECIAL TO HOMES PLUS WAUKESHA – Feeling like your patio is a little blah? It doesn't take a lot of money to do a little spring sprucing, and while a gorgeous outdoor space isn't required to entertain guests, it can definitely set the stage for a memorable event. "Every space in your home matters, from the front porch to the back patio," says Shaunna West of the design blog and store Perfectly Imperfect (www.per- fectlyimperfectblog.com) and author of the upcoming book "The $50 Home Makeover: 75 Easy Projects to Transform Your Current Space into Your Dream Place," (Adams Media, $22.99), due out in July. These outdoor spaces are an extension of your home into the world and should make a statement. West knows all about design- ing on a budget. She got into the decorating business out of neces- sity after wanting to personalize her builder-grade home and is all about creating the home you want now with what you've got. Adding plants and flowers, West says, is the No. 1 way to update your patio on the cheap. "It sounds simplistic, but it's true." She also likes the idea of plant- ing a small herb garden both with herbs you can use and those that smell great. It's a great way to entertain guests senses, and it often works as a conversational piece. No need to buy a truckload of expensive ceramic urns to plant them in either, as West suggests sticking with clay pots for an eco- nomical, stylish option. They're beautiful, functional and the cheapest thing you can buy. You can paint them or leave as they are. Melissa Michaels, creator of The Inspired Room blog (http://theinspiredroom.net), which was voted a reader's favorite by Better Homes & Gar- dens magazine, takes an unex- pected approach by repurposing containers like metal buckets and garbage cans into makeshift pots. Even so-called cheap outdoor furniture can break the bank. A budget-friendly solution from Michaels: Check out flea markets and garage sales for items you can repurpose, such as big wood stools for tables. You can even check them out for affordable everyday furniture, remember- ing that it can still go outside even if it's not specifically designed for it. If's cheap, why not use it outside, she notes. If you're feeling a little adven- turous, why not try a do-it-your- self project? The porch is a place where you can play a bit with DIY explains West, who suggests searching the Web for simple tutorials like attaching old crates and putting cushions on top for easy seating. (Just remember to add an outdoor sealant to provide some weather resistance.) Michaels added basic trellises from a home improvement store to her deck and twisted some vines around them to provide a bit of privacy, which she says took our patio from barren to lush and green. She does warn about getting overly ambitious, however proj- ects can be fun and rewarding, but sometimes it pays off to hire professionals for jobs you aren't really interested or skilled in doing. Outdoor life is messy, so you don't need to get fussy, West says. It also happens to come with a built-in view, so the goal is to accentuate what natural beauty you've got. Stringing vintage-inspired out- door lights can take your space from ho-hum to magical, she notes. They're cheap (you can get them anywhere), beautiful and simple. They also happen to pro- vide a subtle amount of light for guests and provide a romantic setting. You can hang them from an awning or put up posts to string them from. Want a little more décor? West suggests: Stick with decor that will showcase the outdoors rather than overpower it, she says. That might mean some- thing like a few glass hurricane vases filled with shells or a piece of wall art that represents you and your home. Keeping things simple also reduces the stress of trying to fix up outdoor spaces, remembering that perfection isn't the goal. SPECIAL TO HOMES PLUS Here are four new cookbooks that work for barbecue fans and grillers: "Fire & Smoke: A Pitmaster's Secrets" By Chris Lilly (Clarkson Potter, $24.99). Lilly is executive chef of the Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q chain, and a figure on the barbecue competition circuit. This hits both barbecue and grilling. It includes a primer on grill types from kamodo (Big Green Egg) to Cuban roasting box, and recipes for serious barbecue like St. Louis ribs and easier burgers and sides. Unusual: A whole chapter on pork belly and bacon (yes!) and grilled cocktails, like grilled-peach sangria. "Weber's Big Book of Burgers" By Jamie Purviance, (Sunset/Weber, $21.95) The beauty of grilling burgers is that you can go basic and get plenty of payoff, or fire up the inner foodie with ingredients like camembert and red onion jam.This volume does it all. "Guy On Fire" By Guy Fieri (William Morrow, $29.99). Fieri's antics make us roll our eyes, but this plays to his strengths in party-ready food. It has a useful chapter on grilling basics and recipes that can shake up your patio life, like his famous Vol- cano Sauce. "Smokin' In the Boys' Room" By Melissa Cookston (Andrews McMeel, $22.99). Great title – and good book. Cookston is a serious barbecuer who has twice been grand champion of Memphis in May and now owns restaurants in Mississippi and Fayetteville. Her recipes are traditional favorites, like ribs and sides. GRILLING BOOKS

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