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Home and Garden

Today’s kitchen sinks truly are centerpieces

“What art was to the ancient world, science is to the modern: the distinctive faculty. In the minds of men the useful has succeeded to the beautiful.” Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881), British conservative statesman and prime minister.

More bang

Visitors to The Hotel on Mt. Charleston will notice that the mountain resort has returned to its roots.

Stair alcove can double as cozy getaway

Moving to a larger house doesn’t necessarily solve all storage problems. It seems, in fact, that additional space generates additional stuff that overwhelms the capacity of closets and various nooks.

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Large open space gives animator place to draw inspiration

Cal is an animation artist, director and teacher — and a first-time homeowner. He moved into his home two years ago, a 1920s semidetached unit that was owned by an 80-year-old woman who hadn’t changed it much in her 60 years of occupancy. The ground floor was dated, dingy and full of cramped rooms, which was less than ideal for a 20-something guy who works from home and entertains a lot.

Early presses used to bind, not print, books

Ever stop to think about how a book was made in earlier centuries? There still are craftsmen making books much the same way. The paper had to be made. Then the story was written or printed on each page. The pages were stitched together in groups called signatures. They were then put in a book press to be creased and flattened properly. The signatures were assembled, joined and might be pressed again. A cover was added, and once again the book was pressed.

Test tubs for proper size before purchase

DEAR DEBBIE: I’d like some ideas for my bath renovation. I love baths, not showers, and I’ve started looking for the perfect bathtub. Any suggestions? I’m going for an all-white room; I find it soothing, not boring. — Claudette.

Accessories meant to complete space, not confuse homeowners

“There are two things to aim at in life: first, to get what you want; and, after that, to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind achieve the second.” Logan Pearsal Smith (1865-1946), American educator, “Afterthoughts” (1931)

Throw a simple summer soiree

The arrival of warm weather puts me in the mood to throw a summer soiree. I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t entertained. Now I’m ready to dust off my screened porch, sweep out the back courtyard and fill it with friends. Here are a few tips I’ll be following as I entertain this summer. Perhaps they will help inspire you, too.

HOME BRIEFS

Paragon Pools’ designs featured in new book

Mature cactus pads make propagation easy

: I have two Indian fig cacti that grow exceptionally well. My question is about how these cacti reproduce. Mine form little stubs on the leaves and flower quite heavily in the spring. The petals drop off in a few weeks. Later, the little stubs drop off. Are these seed pods? If I planted one, would I get another cactus? Or, do I cut a leaf off and pot that to start a new plant?

Fun and games

raig Snelling doesn’t need any more friends, thank you. It seems anyone who meets him and sees his game room wants to become his friend. And here are the reasons why: Pac-Man, 8-foot pool table, classic pinball machines, foosball, air hockey and Frogger.

Poorly seated toilet may be source of leak

: I had water leaking from underneath my toilet where the toilet meets the floor. My neighbor agreed to help me replace the wax ring underneath. We got the toilet off with no problem, but when we cleaned off the wax from the floor, we noticed that the retaining ring is broken. What do we do now?

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