Gibson Wood Renewal - April 2022

Gibson Wood Renewal - April 2022

In life, we can become used to a great-looking kitchen, but as trends and styles evolve, there are always ways to freshen your kitchen look and make it feel just as cozy as it did the first day you fell in love with it. To do that, these homeowners made the awesome choice of replacing their orange-esque oak with a fresh new look. Our Timeless All-White Kitchens Will Dazzle for Decades

April 2022

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The Blueprint for Success

REMODEL YOUR HOME LIKE A PRO

Set a renovation budget.

Spring is a time for renewal, growth, and transformation; we focus our energy on shaking off the winter blues, refreshing our lives, and focusing on new beginnings. It’s a fabulous time to set out and do something you’ve always wanted to do — like remodel your home. Working on a house can be stressful, confusing, and downright expensive. But, somehow, the professionals always know just the right color pairings, how to save, and which piece of furniture should go. Let’s take a look at some tips on how to keep your renovation on track, within your budget, and in style!

To ensure you don’t wind up spending more than you can afford, give yourself a home renovation budget and stick to it. This budget should include the costs of building materials, labor, decoration and decor, and permitting (if you plan to build or add new structures). Once you have an idea of what you want to spend, be sure to include some extra wiggle room for unexpected costs.

BEFORE

Create a renovation timeline.

With the assistance of a contractor, determine your planned start date and begin mapping out how long each project will take. Do any parts of the project need to be completed before another can start, or can they run concurrently? In your timeline, allow for shipping times and some extra buffers in case any delays occur.

To make their big kitchen feel brand-new and even larger, a clean all-white finish became the natural choice. Instead of buying new cabinets, they chose our rectangular-profile, shaker-style cabinet door replacements. This made their kitchen appear much more modern and drew attention to its spaciousness. The kitchen doesn’t just look new — it feels like it was completely remodeled. Give us a call, and we’ll make your kitchen look just as dazzling!

Focus on efficiency.

The goal is to make your home more practical. So, if you can equip and reorganize your kitchen for maximum utility, you might avoid some major costs and physical labor of blowing out walls and rebuilding the kitchen. Instead, utilize racks and dividers in your pantry and cabinets and consider pullout drawers and pantries. Store infrequently used appliances and gadgets up higher in your kitchen and keep cooking tools in easily accessible areas. The same goes for other areas in your home, too. If you can refresh it without major reconstruction, your budget and sanity will thank you!

Renovate with the future in mind.

While you can’t predict the future, when it comes to decorating, remember that trends and styles change. If you keep your core features neutral (such as cabinets, flooring, and fixtures), you can then swap out and play with certain statement pieces and furniture as trends change. Your renovation should unify all of the spaces in your home, so keep your theme consistent! Most importantly, keep in mind that your home renovations should be refreshing and fun. A well-thought-out plan will set you up for success while eliminating stress along the way! Happy renovating!

Utilize all spaces.

Make the most out of your available space in every room. However, if you can’t go wider, build taller. Also, keep in mind that certain items, such as pots and pans or cutting boards, can go on display in your kitchen to conserve cabinet space. You can even build storage beneath your stairs or install built-in shelving along open walls in your home.

-Tom Gibson

AFTER

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For many people around the country, April is the first month when they might turn on their air conditioning unit. Even if it’s still chilly where you are, summer is right around the corner, so you need to make sure your A/C unit is ready to tackle the summer heat. A central air conditioner has an indoor air handler and an outdoor compressor. The compressor is where you want to spend your time cleaning and maintaining. More than likely, you didn’t use your air conditioner during the cooler winter months, so you’ll need to do a few things to ensure your unit is in peak condition before turning it on. Before doing any work on your unit, make sure you turn off the circuit breaker. You’ll need to turn off the power to the condenser at the service panel, but most condensers also have a weatherproof disconnect box that you need to power down. Once your unit is powered down, you can begin cleaning and replacing your furnace or air-handler filters. Ideally, you should do this twice a year. If you fail to change or clean these filters, restricted air flow will reduce the efficiency of your unit. In addition to cleaning your filter, you also need to clean the condenser coils. If your unit was uncovered during the winter, leaves and other debris likely found their way inside the coils. Make sure the fan is clear before moving inside the box to check if the coils are clogged. If they are, clean them with a soft brush and use a vacuum to clean the coils from the inside. Once you’ve cleared away all the debris and excess water, check the coolant lines. These lines are usually covered with foam insulation that can fray and crack. If they’re damaged, replace them with new foam insulation sleeves. Your unit should now be ready for a test, and if everything runs well, your air conditioner should be ready to take on the summer heat. Anyone can clean and complete simple maintenance, but if the system still doesn’t work properly, call in a professional to investigate and handle further repairs. Preparing Your A/C Unit for Summer

Should I Install Solar Panels on My Home?

A new trend is spreading across the country like wildfire. You may have noticed it: Houses in your neighborhood or surrounding areas have solar panels installed on their roofs. You may have wondered how these panels work or if they’d be worth it for your home. Well, it depends on your situation. Solar panels convert sunlight to usable electricity with the help of a solar inverter, and that electricity can be used to power nearly everything in your home. Some solar panel systems will take it a step further and include a solar battery that allows you to store electricity to use later. This comes in handy if you live in an area that experiences power outages from time to time. Solar panels can be an extremely beneficial investment, but they do have a fairly high initial cost. The average residential solar panel installation cost today is between $13,000–$17,000 after claiming the 26% federal solar tax credit. It can also take anywhere from 2–3 months to get your solar panels fully installed after signing an agreement with an installer. Most Americans don’t have an extra $13,000 lying around to spend on solar panels, but many companies offer financing options to meet any budget. It’s estimated that solar panels will save you more than $50,000 throughout their lifetime due to rising energy costs. Also, in some states, you can sell the excess solar electricity your panels produce back to the utility company. Another new idea hitting the East Coast this year is the solar shingle, which will allow your entire roof to act like a solar panel. These shingles can be easily installed with a nail gun and should cut down on labor costs significantly. The new solar shingle has already won an award at CES 2022 for Best of Innovation Award for Smart Cities. Solar power is definitely something to keep your eye on — it is a rapidly developing technology. Many benefits come with installing solar panels today, but with the introduction of solar shingles, it might be better to wait and see how the technology develops.

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April Fools’ Day Gone Wrong 3 PRANKS THAT SEVERELY BACKFIRED

Not Just a Condiment KETCHUP ONCE CURED ALL In 1834, Dr. John Cook Bennett came up with a recipe for tomato ketchup that he advertised as a cure for indigestion, jaundice, diarrhea, and rheumatism. The ketchup was packed into pills, and his research made its way into well- respected American newspapers. The craze over the ketchup pills grew, and many other entrepreneurs began creating their own versions of the “extract of tomato” pills. Some versions didn’t contain any tomatoes at all and, instead, were filled with laxatives. Still, Americans believed these ketchup pills were the key to ultimate health. Scientists then began to look into Bennett’s research claims, but the ketchup pill craze died down by 1850. Modern research shows that tomatoes contain the antioxidant lycopene, which is linked to reducing the risk of cancer and heart disease. They also are abundant sources of potassium, vitamin C, vitamin K, and folate. While Bennett’s research was exponentially exaggerated, we can say it wasn’t completely inaccurate. April 1, aka April Fools’ Day, is when people love to pull pranks on one another. But if they’re not careful, pranks can end with a court case or jail time. Let’s take a look at a few April Fools’ pranks that have brutally backfired. Navistar Plant Shutdown In April 2021, Pamela Sisco texted her sister about an active shooter at Navistar Plant in Clark County. Her sister was frightened, and she called the authorities to let them know about the situation. The plant shut down after hearing about the incident because they thought it was a real threat. When officers were at the scene, they charged Sisco with inducing panic and disrupting public services. This is a fifth-degree felony in Ohio, and she was sentenced to a year in prison. Radio Contest Gone Wrong KBDS (103.9 FM) is a radio station in California that held a contest in 2005. They told their listeners they could win a new Hummer if they tracked the number of miles of two Hummers as they drove around town. Shannan Castillo won the contest, and when she went to pick up her brand-new car, the DJ came out with a remote control toy car. They then went on air and laughed about how they fooled everyone. Castillo hired an attorney and sued the radio station for $60,000 — the cost of a new Hummer. Practical Joke at Work Creates a Law Glenn Howlett was a services manager at London City Hall in London, Ontario, Canada. In 2004, he decided to take a vacation to relax and not think about

work. His colleagues decided to tell him that a major project he was working on was due earlier than Howlett expected. So, he made his vacation short and decided to return to work to finish his project. He became so stressed out that he began having heart palpitations and collapsed. Afterward, he sued his now former employer for damages. As a result, the city passed a law prohibiting practical jokes within workplaces. As you plan your pranks for April Fools’ Day, remember not to go too far with your jokes. Make them lighthearted and fun so everyone can laugh about them in the future.

ONE-PAN CHICKEN TACOS

Inspired by TasteOfHome.com

INGREDIENTS

• 1 lb chicken breasts, sliced into 1-inch pieces • 2 tbsp garlic powder • 2 tbsp cumin • 2 tbsp chipotle powder

• Canola oil (for frying) • Corn tortillas • Grated cheddar cheese • Pico de gallo and guacamole salsa (to taste)

DIRECTIONS

1. In a mixing bowl, combine the chicken pieces, garlic powder, cumin, and chipotle powder. Mix until the chicken is coated. 2. In a frying pan, heat the oil. When the oil is hot, add the chicken mixture. Cook on medium heat for 5–8 minutes. 3. Remove the chicken from the pan, and add the corn tortillas (avoid overlapping) so they soak up the juices. Flip the tortillas and repeat. Then, add chicken and grated cheddar to each tortilla and fold it over the filling — in the pan. 4. Cook the tacos for 3 minutes per side until the tortillas are crispy and the cheese is melted. 5. Top with pico and guacamole salsa and serve!

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Cabinet Refinishing and Hardwood Floor Refinishing

PO Box 282, Winfield, WV 25213 | (304) 760-9500 | www.NHance.com/charlestonwv

INSIDE

Become a Remodeling Pro 1.

2.

Are Solar Panels the Answer? Get Your A/C Unit Ready for Summer

3.

Major April Fools’ Day Fails

The Ketchup Pill Craze

One-Pan Chicken Tacos

Where to Place Plants in Your Small Space 4.

GREEN PLACES FOR SMALL SPACES

Spring has officially arrived! As the weather warms up around the country, people are heading outside to refresh their gardens. But what if you live in a small space, like an apartment, or simply don’t have any backyard space to accommodate growing your own plants? If you’re in that situation, use these three areas to help your plants thrive!

A Balcony or Patio

Most pots can sit on balcony and patio floors while still getting enough sunlight to properly grow. Just remember to water them appropriately and bring them inside if the weather turns bad!

absorb sunlight without the need to manage their location. Bay windows are ideal, but you can also place plants on the windowsill.

In Windows

The Entryway

Windows can provide the perfect space for plants to

Plants don’t just have to grow on the ground or in pots! An entryway can let you go vertical with your greenery while staying out of the way of visitors.

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