MyCastle Magazine - July 2012

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JULY 2012MYCASTLEMAGAZINE.COM2

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5416 Bent Tree – Bent TreeMagnificent finish-out includes wine cellar, saferoom, beamed ceilings, groined vaulted ceil-ings & hardwood floors! Pool & spa with rotat-ing fountains & neon lights! Gas fed torches! 5/ 5.2 / 4 Car Garage / Gameroom / Media / His& Her Study / 4 Fireplaces / Pool / Spa plusoutdoor living center

$2,500,000

1603 Foard – Creekside at PrestonDesigner quality in this Zachary built zero lot linehome in gated community.Wine cellar! Oversizedkitchen with large island, abundance of counters& top of the line appliances! Elegant masterretreat with luxurious bath. Handsome study withrich wood finishes! Gameroom with private bal-cony! Private patio plus a pool & spa for relax-ation. 3 / 3.1 / Study / Gameroom / 2 Car Garage/ Pool / Spa

$550,000

2011201020092008

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Doing the right thing, creates the right results.

1945 Mustang Trail – The TrailsUnbelievable opportunity to live in this desirableneighborhood at a great price! Hardwood floors!Iron & Wood banister! Fmly room with stone fire-place! Great kitchen with granite bars, stainlesssteel appliances; upgraded lights and fixtures;oversized gameroom with media adjacent andseller will leave the projector, screen & mountedspeakers! 4 / 3.1 / 3 car tandem garage / Study /Gameroom / Media Room

$389,000paulettegreene.com

“One of the Best Realtors/Power Brokers in Dallas”

1778 Prairie Creek – The TrailsGolf course lot plus an amazing outdoor living

center! Built in grill, refrigerator and bi-level serv-

ing bars! Sitting benches plus pretty water foun-

tain! Huntington Home with double study &

exceptional finish out! 4 / 3.1 / 3 Car Garage /

Study / Gameroom / Media / Golf Course Lot

$550,000

1607 Byrn – Twin CreeksPanoramic golf course views from oversizedverandas – easterly facing yard for maximumsummer enjoyment. European inspired architec-ture and designer finishes throughout! Masterwith private fireplace & luxurious bath retreat! 4 /4.1 / 3 Car Garage / Study / Formals / Gameroom/ Unfinished Bonus Room / Golf Course Lot

$906,246

12473 Winding Hollow – Newman Village

This one has it all – premier lot location plus an

incredible outdoor living center with fireplace

(wired for media), plus pebbletec pool & spa!

Hardwoods most downstairs! Media includes pro-

jector & screen! 5 / 5.1 / 3 Car Garage / Study /

Gameroom / Media / Pool & Spa$749,900

6401 Ladbrook Court - Kings RidgeGorgeous home on corner lot with a spaciousfloorplan! Gourmet kitchen offers a gas cooktopwith Austin stone alcove, granite, & huge pantry.Upgrades include handscraped hardwoods,decorative lighting, plantation shutters, iron &wood balustrade & lots of closets! Study & over-sized game room plus media with huge wetbar.5 / 4.1 / 3 car garage / Study / Gameroom /Media

$483,400

5377 Summer Star Lane – Stone Creek VillageStunning Shaddock custom home that offersupgrades including handscraped hardwoodfloors, designer lighting, plantation shutters, iron& wood balustrade and a gourmet kitchen withstainless appliances & gas cooktop. Floorplanoffers study or 5th bedroom down, gameroomand media room. Home features a storm shelterunder the stairs. Walk to Bledsoe Elementary! 4/ 4 / 3 car garage / Study / Gameroom / MediaRoom

$435,000

2960 Lakeview – Whispering FarmsCountry living close to city convenience! 1.12acres! Outdoor fireplace on large patio! DaveWilliams custom home with many enhance-ments! Panoramic views from most rooms theywalls of windows! 4 / 3 / 3 Car / Study / Game /Unfinished Bonus Room

$614,900

5208 Buena Vista – StarwoodFabulous finishout in Steve Roberts home!Paradise back yard with diving / sport pool, sportcourt w basket ball & volley ball goals, large playarea! Oversized kitchen opens to bright familyroom with walk-in wet bar & wine cooler. 5 / 5.1 /3 Car / Game / Media / Study / Pool / Spa / SportCourt $1,500,000

5936 Shady Oaks – Chapel CreekRich wood finishes throughout this home thatfeatures a hard to find downstairs media room!Executive Study, Master retreat offers pool views& spa like bath! Pool, spa, outdoor grill and yardfor play! 5 / 5.2 / Formals / Study / Media / Gmrm/ Hobby Room / 3 Car Garage / Pool & Spa

$875,000

8020 Fallmeadow – Crystal CreekWow factor throughout the home plus a paradisepool, spa, large covered patio & fenced yard!Private study with full bath could be 5th bedroom.Sunroom / playroom adjacent to the breakfastnook! Gameroom with dry bar and all bedroomshave bath access! Computer nook built-inupstairs! Located next to Legacy Park & Trails;Frisco Schools! 4 / 4.1 / Study / Gameroom /Sunroom / 2 Car Garage / Pool / Spa

$435,000

JULY 2012MYCASTLEMAGAZINE.COM 3


beating the summer heat with

PATIO COVERINGS

great ideas toELEVATE YOUR

BARBECUE

eight ways to create an easy and

CHIC COOKOUT

tips to repel housefliesSHOO, FLY!

maintaining a desirableNEIGHBORHOOD

making the switch toHARDWOODFLOORS

12

8

10

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13

14

inside

dealing with outdoorPESKY PESTS

6choosing

your perfectoutdoorFIRE

PIT

ON THE COVER

Let summer cookouts stay outside by keeping

the heat at baySee Page 8.

COVER PHOTO COURTESY

METROCREATIVEGRAPHICS.COM

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MyCastle Frisco is published monthly byStar Community Newspapers, 624 KronaDr Ste 170, Plano, TX 75074-8304.

The entire contents of My Castle FriscoCopyright 2012 by Star CommunityNewspapers. No portion may be repro-duced in whole or in part by any meanswithout the express written permission ofStar Community Newspapers. Additionalcopies are available for purchase by con-tacting customer service at 972-424-9504.


13



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3209 WellshireBeautifully updated five bedroom, four and one half bath home with handscraped hardwood floors and plantation shutters. The powder bath features a sauna. Executive study with stone fireplace and built-in’s. Gourmet kitchen has island, slate flooring, wrap around bar stoolarea, planning desk and abundance of cabinets. Private master suite has sitting area. The masterbath has a doorless shower with dual shower heads, his and her closets and an entrance to thelaundry room from the closet. There is a much desired second guest bedroom down. Private back-yard offers a covered patio and a lagoon pool/spa with waterfall. Beautifully landscaped home islocated in the Creeks of Willow Bend neighborhood and is in close proximity to schools, shoppingand restaurants.

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Outdoor fire pits are gaining steam amongNorth Texans.

Jim Jarvis, president of fire pit retailerDancing Fire Inc., has been in the businesssince 1997. He said the decorations havenever been as popular as they are rightnow.

“From residential areas to hotels to restau-rants, fire pits are big,” Jarvis said. “It’sgotten to the point where you can hardly goto a new patio area without running intoone.”

Fire pits are designed to prevent outdoorfires from spreading. They can be as elabo-rate as complex metal and clay structuresthat take up the whole backyard, or as sim-ple as a concrete pot, Jarvis said.

He said the summer heat doesn’t deter

flamemothTO A

“There’s something about fire pits that act likemagnets. You can be out in the backyard withthe kids in one corner and adults in another.But when you light that fire pit, everyone justwants to be around it.”

LIKE A



homeowners from placing orders becausemore people tend to spend time outsideduring June and July.

“It doesn’t matter how hot it is. Once thesun goes down, everyone wants to bearound a fire,” Jarvis said. “People inTexas are used to the sun and the heat.Plus fire pits keep the mosquitoes away.”

Dancing Fire specializes in designing andcreating made-to-order fire pit kits.

The drop-and-place kits are meant to beeasy to install and maintain, Jarvis said.Dancing Fire’s stainless steel kits start atabout $350.

“In the past, if you installed your fire pitwrong, you could blow the place right up,”Jarvis said. “These are less labor-intensive,now anyone can do it.”

Jarvis said his orders have increased as thekits have gotten easier to install. Once afire pit is in place, it requires very littlemaintenance, even if the owner lights itevery night.

“There’s something about fire pits that actlike magnets,” Jarvis said. “You can be outin the backyard with the kids in one cornerand adults in another. But when you lightthat fire pit, everyone just wants to bearound it.”

Jarvis said space is no concern for resi-dents who are interested in purchasing apit. A variety of different shapes, includingtables and torches, are available.

Chimineas, rounded outdoor fireplaces, areanother option for shoppers who might notwant to commit to installing a full-fledgedfire pit.

For information about fire pits, chimineasor Dancing Fire installation kits, visitwww.dancingfire.com.

Several other landscaping and outdoor dec-orating companies also sell fire pits in theDallas/Fort Worth area, including RoseLandscapes in Lewisville and JacksonsHome & Garden in Dallas.

n lenaPRICE, staff writer


shad

e


Everyone loves their patio during the breezyspring evenings or those crisp-cool autumn af-ternoons. But when the Texas sun comes blaz-ing down during the summer, residents cannotrun inside fast enough and hide on their patios.

It is time to reclaim that sweltering portion ofyour house from the blistering heat.

One of the best starts to reclaiming the back-yard is to get a little shade over that patio.Through a wide variety of different patio coversresidents can find a style that best suits theirpatio-cooling needs.

Over at CarportsTentsAndSheds.com, they rec-ommend homeowners take a step back to evalu-ate what they want in an outdoor patio covering.The website offers up different types of ideas forpatio covers and what material might work bestfor an individual.

T Y P E S :

R E T R A C TA B L E P AT I O C O V E R SA retractable patio cover is basically thesame as an awning. Patio covers that are re-tractable are attached to the side of the houseand can be retracted when not in use oropened up when needed. They provide thebest of both worlds because you only need touse the patio covering when you want to andit remains out of the way when it is not

needed. Retractable patio covers function thesame way as retractable awnings.

F R E E S TA N D I N G P AT I O C O V E R S A freestanding patio cover is not connected tothe side of the home. Depending on the mate-rial, the freestanding cover is made from andhow large it is, some freestanding patio coversare portable and others must be firmly an-chored into the ground. A gazebo canopy canfunction as a freestanding patio cover.

M AT E R I A L S :

W O O D P AT I O C O V E R SA wood patio cover offers solid constructionalong with the beauty of wood. Wooden patiocovers are typically attached to the side of thehouse and offer extended living space under

the patio cover. Wood patio cover designs caninclude solid wood construction that resem-bles a porch awning or cover, or can be moreopen, such as in a lattice design.

V I N Y L P AT I O C O V E R S

A vinyl patio cover is a low-maintenance op-tion.

The patio covering is made from vinyl and canbe ordered in a wide variety of colors. It doesnot rust like metal, is not subject to water or in-sect damage like wood and is one of the leastexpensive options for a backyard patio cover.

n zachMARKOVIC,[email protected]

MADEIN THE


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Exceptional Custom Home boasts courtyard design, extensive

millwork, rich woods, exposed brick, & a gourmet kitchen.

Entertain with ease with outdoor living overlooking a pool, spa,

& fireplace. A wine grotto opens to the pool & private backyard.

Sure to Impress! More at www.6088Rachel .com

Christie Cannon469.951.9588

LUXURY HOMES byKeller Williams Realty

6088 Rachel Drive • Starwood$724,900 – 5 Bdrms/4.1 Baths/4 Living

2748 Montreaux Drive • Frisco$950,000 • 4 Bed/4.0 Bath

Tonya Peek214.356.4472

Ebby Halliday Realtors

Magnificent John Kelly Custom home on a Lushly Landscpedculdesac lot. Designer touches thru-out. A Stunningentry~Spacious rooms~Soaring ceilings~Scrapedhdwds~Downstairs media room~Designer carpets~Customdrapery~hand painted walls.

3779 Hickory Grove Lane • Frisco$650,000 • 5 Bed/5.1 Bath

Tonya Peek214.356.4472


Luxury custom Darling home with striking elevation siding to agreenbelt located in prestigious Newman Village. Features 5bedrooms(2down 3up) 5.1 baths,extensive Handscraped HWdownstairs,Study with ceiling beams,Open Family with 2 storyceilings, Gourmet top of the line Kitchen, Nook Brick FP,Masterwith his and hers WI closets including built in drawers.

.34 Acre WALK OUT GOLF COURSE LOT WITH CREEKVIEW!!Nice size yard with plenty of room to add a pool and stillhave extra space. Park and community pool just up the street.8 acres of park trails! Located in Purefoy Elementary, ratedexemplary for 2011. Scraped hardwoods, travertine, and gran-ite. 20x14 master suite, jetted tub, OVERSIZED SHOWER.

Jackie Schor972-612-2000


11334 Casa Grande• Frisco$579,900 – 4 Bdrms/3 Baths

The entrance is very inviting with custom entry door, handscraped wood floors, impressive circular staircase with wroughtiron spindles and split formals looking onto the family room anddramatic windows. Master suite is spacious enough for thelargest of furniture and has a bayed sitting area overlooking theback yard. Two private guest suites. Lone Star Communityamenities

Debi Leavitt972-335-6564


1210 Carlisle Court• Frisco$529,900 – 4 Bdrms/3 Baths

Rare opportunity to live in Frisco with 1.6 acres in a newlyremodeled builders home in Custer Creek Estates.Gourmetkitchen,SS appliances, granite,2 sinks,huge pantry, hand-scraped woodflooring, 3 staircases, 32x21 game room,all woodwindows,2 laundry rooms,travertine & marble in master bath,pool, overszed garage. Long list upgrades!

Michelle Campbell972-365-0916

Keller Williams Realty

15801 Custer Trail• Frisco$660,000 – 4 Bedrooms/3 Baths

Beautifully updated Starwood home. Rare floor plan,2 storyentry,all new GE Profile SS appl,granite countrs,tumbled traver-tine bk splash,new paint,master bath completely remodeled wtravertine tile,granite counters,new faucets,floating glass,added7 oak trees in back for privacy,new electronic gate & fence,woodfloors,bronze knobs,much more!!

Michelle Campbell972-365-0916

Keller Williams Realty

5348 Quail Run• Frisco$469,900 – 4 Bedrooms/4 Baths

Lovely home with beautiful drive-up! This sensational home wasthe first Energy Star compliant home to achieve 5 stars inFrisco! Desirable features include hand scraped wood floors,impressive architecture, game & media rooms, wine room,bonus room (could be 5th BR), outdoor fireplace, & pool

The O'Gorman Group972.715.0190


5652 Montreaux Drive • Frisco$824,900 • 4 Bed/4.1 Bath



3 Fox Glen Run • Frisco$2,599,999 • 7BR/8.1BA/4-Car/3.19 Acre



5041 Oak Knoll Lane • Frisco$899,900 • 4 Bed/4.1 Bath

This exquisite traditional offers the ultimate in designer finishesand refined taste! Five bedrooms with walk-in closets andexpansive game/media room! The wonderful backyard retreatpresents a saltwater pool with rock waterfalls, raised spa, pri-vate garden area, and covered/open patios.



3053 Seneca Drive • Frisco$998,000 • 5 Bedrooms/4.1 Baths



6000 Chamberlyne Drive • Frisco$1,695,000 • 7 Bed/6.2 Baths/3 Car

Pool/Spa/TennisCourt - Elegant estate in gated community! This

home features nine living areas–including downstairs & upstairs

media rooms, and game & billiards rooms. Incredible backyard with

huge play yard, gated pool/spa, cabana with kitchenette, covered

and open patios, and play house!

Unbelievable French traditional on wooded creek lot in gatedStarwood! Large game room with wet bar and media room withtheater equipment, gourmet kitchen, and backyard paradisewith pool, spa, covered & open patios, built-in grill, lush land-scaping, and steps leading to the creek!

Magnificent home in gated Starwood with unique architecturaldetail throughout! Beautiful wood floors & cathedral beamedceilings! Media room, master with fireplace, expansive coveredpatio, large play yard, and separate entrance guestquarters–perfect for guests, in-laws, or nanny!


When it comes to hosting an evening of exquisite edibles, the last thinganyone thinks about is a barbecue. But Matt and Heather Hamilton, own-ers of Local Yocals in downtown McKinney, prove the simple cookingstyle can be elevated.

We all want to impress our guests with our cooking, but when we think ofbarbecue, the first things that come to mind are drippy sauces, melted po-tato salad and heavy beers. But that’s not how it has to be. It’s hard toimagine there could be any new manna from the grill gods but there is,Matt said, and he’s got three words to live by this summer.

“Wagyu beef bacon.”

“No one else will have it, and it’s a great appetizer,” Matt said. “Also, flatiron or sirloin cap make a great cut to grill on the front end to serve yourguests to get their juices flowing – no pun intended. For me, a must-haveon the grill side is mesquite lump charcoal. No gas and no briquettes – gofor the real deal. You can’t beat the flavor and the heat that Mesquite givesyou.”

After you’ve trotted down to the local store to get the charcoal, make sure


kickin’ itup a notchgreat ideas to elevate your barbecue

Don’t break the dishes! Nothing is worse thanhaving to worry about your dining set beingdismantled by one broken dish. Try thesesimple sets and put your mind at ease. RopeOutdoor Dinnerware, set of four, $26-34.And, Talavera Melamine Salad Plates, set of4, $24 at potterybarn.com

To create whimsical am-biance, add some lightingthat won’t burn the house

down. These paperlanterns are battery

operated, so you won’thave any additional heat

added by candles, and you can hang themanywhere. Battery Paper Lanterns,

set of three, $12 pier1.com. potte

ryba

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dinnerwear

chicBARBECUES

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ambianceOK ladies, while the men handle the grilling,let’s talk about the fun stuff. When it comes to

hosting a summer barbecue, the last thinganyone wants to do is spend their time sweat-

ing on the patio while cleaning, decoratingand grilling. But, with these eight items foran easy, chic barbecue, you’ll have the patio

put together in no time.


If you don’t have patiofurniture, it’s time to getsome. The end of thesummer usually meanspatio furniture is in theway for most retailers,

so they’ll be marked down to make room forfall products. This set from Home Depot isstylish and sophisticated without breaking thebank. Hampton Bay Andrews 7-piece PatioSet, $449, homedepot.com

If you already have patio furni-ture to die for, consider fresh-ening up your cushions. It’s aneasy way to update the spacewithout spending a fortune onnew patio furniture. Mixingpatterns with similar colorswill provide a fun, laid back

look. White Indonesian Fruit Wide Lumbar Pil-low, $19, World Market and Bali Stripe ThrowPillow, $25, www.worldmarket.com

You can’t have a proper barbeque withoutsome music. These cool little speakers blendin to your décor and will work for a dressed-down barbecue or a sophisticated eveningunder the stars – whatever your style, theseare sure to please. Simulated Rock OutdoorSpeakers, $88 a pair, bestbuy.com

Keep the bugs at bay with these handy littletents. White Collapsi-ble Mesh Food Tents,set of three, $9,WorldMarket.com

Keep drinks coldin this wickercooler. SuncastResin Wicker77quart PatioCooler withWheels, $98, amazon.com

If you’re not worried about keep-ing coifed, keep cool with a nicenew set of misters. The gentlemist can cool down the patio bya few degrees. Misty Mate CoolPatio30 Low Pressure MistingSystem, $48, homedepot.com


you have good meat. Nothing ruins a barbecuelike a poor cut, poor quality steak … except thatannoying neighbor that won’t shut up about his$5,000 grill, but that’s a whole other story.

“Start with good meat – you can still mess up agreat piece of meat, but you will never make amediocre piece of meat great as a novice,” Mattsaid. “Practice, practice, practice: don’t waituntil you have guests to figure this out. Knowyour grill and how to cook the types of meat thatyou are serving. Different cuts cook differently;you can’t put a fillet and a sirloin on at the sametime and get them done at the same time. Also,don’t leave the grill – ever!”

You are not Bobby Flay, and your crew is notthere to make sure you don’t burn the meat, sohave all other side dishes or anything else youwant to grill ready to go before you start.

“Don’t try to go back in and finish somethingelse,” Matt said. “When you are grilling, you aregrilling. Period.”

Another tip most grill kings may not think aboutis lighting. No, not to emphasize your good sideor highlight that giant bold print on your “Youkill it, I’ll grill it” apron, but to better see yourmeat.

“You need to have good lighting on your grill forgrilling in the spring and fall when it is alreadydark,” Matt said. “Don’t use LED or soft light.

They distort the color, and that light on your backporch that is 20 feet away, so it isn’t working ei-ther. Get yourself a lamp, spotlight or a goodflashlight to have good lighting on the grill.”

Last but not least, Matt said don’t just cook themeat, cook the meal.

“Soak on corn in water for two hours and grill itbeside your meat, wrap potatoes and onions infoil with butter and herbs,” Matt said. “You canuse the same technique with eggplant, okra,onions, you name it. One thing I stay away fromis kabobs. The meat is always overdone beforethe veggies are; it is a hard one to get right un-less you like well-done meat or al-dente veg-gies. Of course, on the well-done meat we havea saying about cooking a steak: ‘There are threeways to cook a steak – rare, medium rare andruined.’”

MEAT CATEGORIES EXPLAINED:

NATURAL – Conventional meat with nothingadded to it after harvest

ALL NATURAL – Steroid, hormone and antibi-otic-free for at least the last 180 days

GRASS FED – Some big guys playing gameshere; this could mean a conventional calf thatwas on grass the first year of his life and feedlotfeed for the last six-eight months

GRASS FINISHED – This is what Grass Fedused to mean – this is as it sounds – grass, hayor other non-grain forages always

ORGANIC – This is organic certified the wholeway through from farm to case, still can be feed-lot fed and grain finished on organic grains, mostof the extra expense goes to maintain certifica-tions along the way not back to the actual farmer

Local Yocals offers a Steak 101 class that startswith a discussion explaining grading, marketing,branding, labeling and cuts of beef. Studentsthen get to go into the cut room and see old-timebutchers cut steaks from whole carcasses.

“We will lay out every type of steak possible foryou to see, and we’ll explain exactly where allsteaks come from and how to choose a great steakfor you and your guests,” Matt said. “We will endthe class at the grill. Sampling Wagyu – famousas Kobe – and Grass Finished beef. We will com-pare and contrast several cuts of steaks cookedon gas and charcoal to different levels of done-ness. Come hungry and ready to eat like a steakking; then congratulations, you are a graduate ofSteak 101.”

For information about Local Yocals or the Steak101 classes, visit localyocalfarmtomarket.com.

n martheSTINTON, [email protected]

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Carpeting is still the popular preference forbedrooms and staircases, but more people thesedays are opting for hardwoods in their livingrooms and kitchens. Tiles or laminates are thepreference for bathrooms, laundry rooms andother areas where there are water sources andpotential plumbing issues.

John Hangartner, owner of J&H Family Floor-ing in Frisco, is a third-generation owner of aflooring business and has been in the industryall of his life. He has seen trends come and go,and now sees a strong trend toward more hard-surface flooring and less carpeting.

“Carpeting can be nice, but it doesn’t have thelongevity of hard surfaces,” he said. “You canget 10 or 12 years out of carpeting while hardsurfaces can last forever.”

Actually, there may be advantages and disad-vantages to all kinds of flooring.

Besides carpeting and tile, many peopletoday are using laminates for kitchens,bathrooms and even living rooms. Lami-nates are sometimes preferred because theycan be used to mimic various materials.

People who want the appearance of the nat-ural beauty of hardwood flooring or stonebut want quick and simple installation mayfind that laminate flooring is the way to go.Also, laminate floors may be more easilycleaned and maintained than other types offlooring.

However, Hangartner says the disadvantageof laminates is that they are placed on afloating surface and often create a hollowsound when their walked on.

People who argue the case in favor of car-peting would say that carpeting is soft andinsulating, and is easy on the feet.

However, the disadvantagesof installing carpeting in-clude the fact that carpetingis more difficult to cleanthan hardwoods or tiles andits colors or design fre-quently go out of style andhave to be changed. For ex-ample, shag carpeting maybe in style during one periodof time while other texturesmay be preferred in otheryears.

Hangartner knows that hard-wood floors usually cost morethan carpeted floors, but healso knows that hardwoodfloors require less mainte-nance, last longer and canusually be repaired insteadof having to be replaced.

Hardwood floors may be colder to walk on inwinter, but well-placed area rugs can remedythat situation.

Hardwood floors can get scraped, scratchedscuffed dented or otherwise damaged. However,scratched wood flooring can be usually besanded and a stained wood floor is usually moreeasily cleaned than a stained carpet.

Carpeting can be beautiful, but often a well-treated hardwood floor will be even more beau-tiful when first laid and will continue tomaintain its beauty for years if well cared for.

In addition to J & H Flooring in Frisco, thereare several other companies in the Frisco areaand Collin County that offer a wide variety offlooring, including carpeting, hardwoods, tilesand laminates.

n danEAKIN, [email protected]


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Houseflies may not bite like mosquitoes do,but anyone who has had a fly get into theirhouse knows how annoying they can be.

One simple, inexpensive way that somepeople trust to keep flies away from theirbackyard involves nothing more than fillinga plastic zip-close bag with water, and thendropping a penny in the bag before sealingit up and hanging it in a sunny place.While some people dispute the effective-ness of the bag and claim it is nothing more

than an old wives’ tale, Hovland said he isa believer.

“It won’t work on mosquitoes, but it ishighly effective on houseflies,” Hovlandsaid. “You have to have it in the sun, sowhen the sun shines into the water it re-flects off the copper and creates a haze thatflies don’t like. I guess it disturbs their vi-sion. You can put them over the top of thedoorway, as long as it is in the sun, and itwill keep them away.”

One of the most enjoyable ways to spend aTexas evening is by cooking in the backyardwhile spending time with friends and family.

However, no matter how well things are plannedand how tight the security is, one unwantedguest has a habit of showing up and ruining theparty for everyone. The guest in question is themosquito, a pest that is found in huge numbersacross the area during the warmer months.Luckily, a few simple steps can keep mosqui-toes at bay, and keep the cookout enjoyable foreveryone there.

Lars Hovland, a lawn and garden specialist atElliott’s Hardware in Plano, said a number ofproducts are available to repel mosquitoes,some of which can even be used to add am-biance and atmosphere to an otherwise plainbackyard.

“The Tiki torches that you see in people’s back-yards can be very effective when you put cit-ronella candle wax in them,” Hovland said.“They have a nice smell, and since citronella isa natural retardant, the bugs are not going tocome near them or anything else that has cit-ronella in them.”

If torches aren’t really your thing, a number ofproducts are available which can be placed on

the porch or near the pool to keep mosquitoesaway from a larger area. One of these is a mos-quito fogger, which emits a chemical that repelsand kills insects. Another, less lethal, productis the classic mosquito coil, which typicallyuses citronella and will keep mosquitoes awayfor 5-7 hours once lit, Hovland said. Foggerscan cost up to $80, while coils are considerablycheaper at about $5 each.

Another product similar to the fogger attachesto the end of a water hose, which can then besprayed onto the yard and bushes. Hovland saidit will kill any mosquitoes present when it issprayed, and will continue to kill any additionalones that land in the area for several hours. Theclassic “bug zapper” is also an option, withsome models incorporating bait and fans intothe design to attract mosquitoes, and then dis-patch of them quickly.

While the previous options work well for a spe-cific area, there are also options for people onthe move. Hovland said Elliott’s sells a productfor $2.69 that is good for up to 200 hours ofportable mosquito control.

“A great option for people who are outsideworking in the yard or for children who are out-side playing, is a plastic citronella wristband,”Hovland said. “It is waterproof, and I use it and

my grandkids use it. They are highly effectivefor repelling mosquitoes. They will also work forkids who are playing in and around a swimmingpool. Put one around your wrist or ankle andenjoy a bug-free day.”

All-natural options are available too, and youare more likely to find them at your local nurs-ery than at the hardware store. Two plants, anold-fashioned geranium and society garlic – anornamental plant native to South Africa – willkeep mosquitoes at bay and add a little color toa front or back porch.

“The geraniums are great and they smell justlike a citronella candle,” said Jenny Moots ofCalloway’s Nursery. “We sell them under thename citronella plant. Just setting it out theredoesn’t do as good of a job, so you need to goout there and crush a few of the leaves and letthe scent out. We also sell society garlic, whichis a non-edible form of garlic that repels mos-quitoes.”

With the variety of options available to keepmosquitoes at bay, keeping the unwanted guestsaway from the horseshoe pit or barbecue grillhas never been easier.

n billCONRAD, [email protected]

theuninvitedSIMPLE TIPS FOR A MORE PEACEFUL OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE DEALING WITH

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G E T T I N G T O K N O W Y O UNothing is more important to a sense of com-munity than knowing the people who livearound you. How do you do it? Spend a littletime chatting over the fence and find out whatothers’ concerns are about the neighborhood.You may offer to help organize a block partyso you can meet lots of your neighbors at onetime in a relaxed environment.

It takes only a little time to get to know yourneighbors and discuss your concerns aboutthe neighborhood and community. Share in-formation.

B A C K T O S C H O O LAlmost every school needs some kind of help.Talk to school administrators and ask if theyneed volunteers to read to younger kids orhelp with grounds keeping a few times a year.

P L U G I NMore and more, neighbors are forming Inter-net discussion groups, e-mail distribution

lists, and neighborhood-specific websites.Any of these offers a great way for you to effi-ciently communicate and interact with peoplein your immediate area – people who drivethe same roads, send their kids to the sameschool and who may have similar home-main-tenance situations as you do.

Many Realtors are publishing blogs withhighly localized information, sending outneighborhood newsletters, or otherwise shar-ing their expertise with their neighbors. Con-nect with them!

L O O K O U T !Be alert to things in your neighborhood thatsay “we don’t care” and may invite crime –like insufficient street lighting, boarded-upbuildings, no recreational activities for kids,vacant lots littered with debris, lawns thathaven’t been mowed in months and rusted-outcars in driveways. Work with law enforce-ment, civic groups, schools, local businesses,community agencies, churches, and service

clubs to address the problems.

You may also consider joining a neighborhoodwatch group. Members receive training in crimeprevention and agree to look out for each other’ssafety and property. If there’s no watch organi-zation in your neighborhood, start one with helpfrom local law enforcement and communitygroups. Every year, there’s “National NightOut,” which encourages people to get out andmeet their neighbors. Take advantage of it.

Finally, help local government do its job. Youcan also ask the local police department tocome speak to your neighbors about safety,recent crime trends, and things that citizenscan do to help.

B E I N T H E K N O WChange is inevitable; so is growth in mostareas. Not every change is a huge six-lanehighway. Sometimes, small projects like anew stoplight or a street that’s widened to ac-commodate a bike lane can have a big effect

it’s a beautifulday in theneighborhood . . .

When you buy a home, you’re not justbuying four walls and some brick –

you’re also buying into a neighborhood.For whatever reason – the character,

the area, the schools or the investmentpotential – you chose to buy in a

certain area. As a homeowner, you should take an active role in your

community so that the conditions you found so favorable stay that way.

When you buy a home, you’re not justbuying four walls and some brick –

you’re also buying into a neighborhood.For whatever reason – the character,

the area, the schools or the investmentpotential – you chose to buy in a

certain area. As a homeowner, you should take an active role in your

community so that the conditions you found so favorable stay that way.


on your daily life.

Many times, there will be a designated con-tact person who can let you know what proj-ects are on the horizon for your neck of thewoods. Take some time every so often to seewhat kind of developments are on the agenda.By finding out about proposed projects beforethey are approved, you and your neighborscan organize, assess the impact and offer con-structive input in the appropriate forumthroughout the process.

Above all, find out who the local politiciansare and be willing to contact them – remem-ber that they work for us – it’s their job aselected officials to answer questions and helptheir constituents. If you catch wind of a trou-blesome project, organize your neighbors anddraw up a petition that supports changing oreliminating it. Giving a petition to local gov-ernment officials may or may not work, butcontinue to press your case – you never knowwhat might happen with a little persistence.

I T ’ S Y O U R N E I G H B O R H O O DNo matter where you live, your neighbor-hood directly affects the quality of yourday-to-day life. Do your part to ensure theneighborhood and your home retain their

character and their attraction. After all, astable or improving community is an inte-gral part of increasing real estate value andmakes your investment much more prof-itable in the long run.

For more information about buying and sell-ing real estate in North Texas, visit LoneS-tarHomes.com.

n courtesy of the Collin County Association of Realtors


Robert Gerwer - President • 972-265-00896833 Coit Rd. Ste. 103 • Plano, TX

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DAYS ON MARKETON AVERAGE

SALES CLOSINGSNUMBER OF SALES

SALES PRICEON AVERAGE

59$249,394 47153$300,710 93$382,084 309

275

n 75033 n 75034 n 75035

Information courtesy of Collin County Association of Realtors, March 1, 2012 - May 31, 2012

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MyCastle Magazine - July 2012

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