INDOOR AIR QUALITY

Building code mandates for better sealing and insulation sometimes result in a decline in indoor air quality. This is sometimes referred to as “Sick House Syndrome,” and it’s when occupants become susceptible to respiratory issues, headaches, and fatigue. There are many ways to remedy it.

We’ve all got our favorites. Our go-to pizza place. The trusted plumber we call when things go wrong. Our most-loved eatery to enjoy a meal with our children. And even the vet who gives our pets a clean bill of health.

This winter, hundreds of you took to our website to celebrate those West Sound people and businesses you love, the results of which you will find on the following pages. Go forth and see if your favorites made the list, and don’t forget to join us for our celebratory fête beginning at 6 p.m. on June 9 at the Kitsap Conference Center at Bremerton Harborside.

Drenching is an emerging trend gaining popularity in interior design. It’s the practice of saturating a space with a singular, dominant color or material, be it wood, stone or tile, which can create a pleasingly harmonious space. A singular-color palette reduces visual contrast, and eyes can glide over a space, taking it in as a whole. The effect can be calming, creating a refined and cohesive space.

Coverings, the premier trade show for the tile and stone industry for over 35 years, recently welcomed 25,000 attendees and 1,000 exhibitors from 40 countries, showcasing all the latest tile, stone and industry equipment trends at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. In addition to all the tile, stone and tools, there were informative presentations, educational opportunities and even a pet adoption exhibit where custom-designed dog houses clad in decorative tiles were raffled off to raise funds for the local animal shelter.

One of the show’s highlights was the Trends Report by award-winning interior designer and Coverings spokesperson Alena Capra, CMKBD, of Alena Capra Designs of South Florida. Capra identified the following top trends, which were easy to spot on the show floor:

From task lighting for food preparation, crafting and cleaning, to mood lighting for relaxation and entertaining, lighting both natural and artificial plays a pivotal role in how you use and enjoy a space. Equally important are lighting controls that allow you to change the purpose and functionality of lights to suit the time of day (to assist in balancing your circadian rhythms for a better mood, productivity and sleep), as well as a range of activities that occur in any given room. In short, lighting is an important element of every room but frequently treated as an afterthought.

From the 1950s through the 1980s, it was common to have a home bar, previously referred to as a wet bar. It was both a status symbol and a sign of the times spurred by popular movies like “Goldfinger” with Sean Connery and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” with Audrey Hepburn. Home bars are making a comeback due to a variety of factors, including cocooning after Sept. 11 and the coronavirus, driving laws, a marked increase in home entertaining and a newfound interest in mixology — in part, from the rise of professional bartenders to star status, perfecting the art of curated cocktails.

In the early stages of planning a home bar, there are many questions to ask yourself, such as: Why create a home bar? Where will it be built? What amenities are essential, and which are merely “nice to have?” What style or “look” is right for the project? Guidelines for answering these questions are provided below.

Do thoughts of holiday entertaining put you on tilt? This article is full of helpful hints and delicious recipes and menu suggestions for stress-free holiday entertaining — allowing you to embrace “home for the holidays” with anticipation and joy.

Let’s begin with a reminder that entertaining and celebrating the holidays is not about a clean house, a perfectly decorated abode or even the food served (family food traditions aside). It is all about the people who will cross your threshold, be they family or friends. Your guests are mainly there to spend quality time with you and the other members of your household.

ADUs are identified in three primary ways, with all having similar characteristics: attached dwelling units, accessory dwelling units or additional dwelling units that are situated on the same lot as a primary residence and typically share a common wall or floor and ceiling with the primary dwelling. Some examples include a daylight basement, living quarters above a garage, a bump-out or an addition to the existing residential structure.