http://www.kansascity.com/living/home/index.xml News, sports and entertainment from The Kansas City Star en-us Copyright 2013Kansas City Star House + Home 60 Fri, 24 May 2013 16:02:29 CDT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss McClatchy Interactive's PubSys 1.1.fi feedback@kansascity.com (Feedback) http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/24/4248027/life-size-barbies-dreamhouse-opens.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/24/4248027/life-size-barbies-dreamhouse-opens.html#storylink=rss Fri, 24 May 2013 13:00 CDT Barbie the Dreamhouse Experience, a 10,000-square-foot building with an "endless closet," elevators, a kitchen, bedroom and everything pink, opened earlier this month at Sawgrass Mills mall in Sunrise, Fla. 1771949 http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/23/4248031/impatiens-to-plant-or-not-to-plant.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/23/4248031/impatiens-to-plant-or-not-to-plant.html#storylink=rss Thu, 23 May 2013 10:00 CDT Local experts say that downy mildew, a disease that has devastated garden impatiens in many states, is not a problem in the Kansas City area. 1771951 http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/17/4235402/livliga-dinnerware-promotes-right.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/17/4235402/livliga-dinnerware-promotes-right.html#storylink=rss Fri, 17 May 2013 10:00 CDT Kansas City native Sheila Kemper Dietrich talks about Livliga, a line of portion-control dinnerware she founded following a move to Boulder, Colo. She has a new line of children's dinnerware and a children's book in the works. 1771951 http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/10/4223610/qa-with-allan-stever-of-jadore.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/10/4223610/qa-with-allan-stever-of-jadore.html#storylink=rss Fri, 10 May 2013 10:00 CDT Allan Stever and Michael Richardson's J'adore shop in Brookside is a little department store of home decor items with a European flair. Stever talks about how the two got started and some of J'adore's specialties 1771951 http://www.kansascity.com/2013/04/27/4206106/houseguest-retro-inferno-owner.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/04/27/4206106/houseguest-retro-inferno-owner.html#storylink=rss Sat, 27 Apr 2013 20:35 CDT Rod Parks got a blast of national attention last month when he and his Bruce Goff house in Crestwood were featured in a color spread in the New York Times. Parks has held many functions in his one-of-a-kind dwelling, an octagonal floor plan house embodying the eccentric modern architect's unique sense of style. 1771951 http://www.kansascity.com/2013/04/20/4185282/qa-cathy-campbell-manager-of-the.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/04/20/4185282/qa-cathy-campbell-manager-of-the.html#storylink=rss Sat, 20 Apr 2013 20:18 CDT Preparations are underway this week for the 25th Annual Herb and Wildflower Sale on April 27, which benefits the John Wornall House and Alexander Majors House museums. 1771951 http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/24/4248005/what-are-my-options-for-basement.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/24/4248005/what-are-my-options-for-basement.html#storylink=rss Fri, 24 May 2013 10:00 CDT Weighing the pros and cons of hardwood, tile, laminate and more. 1771952 http://www.kansascity.com/2013/04/10/4171473/i-hate-my-walls-should-i-install.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/04/10/4171473/i-hate-my-walls-should-i-install.html#storylink=rss Wed, 10 Apr 2013 00:00 CDT The previous owner of my house installed strand board panels in the living room instead of Sheetrock. I overlooked it, figuring that one day I'd do something about. I prefer not to rip everything out to install Sheetrock. A friend suggested doing a "skim coat" that, if done well, will look like Sheetrock. What's your opinion on this? Should I tear out and install new walls or go with skim coating? 1771952 http://www.kansascity.com/2013/04/04/4161347/how-do-i-replace-a-toilet-liner.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/04/04/4161347/how-do-i-replace-a-toilet-liner.html#storylink=rss Thu, 04 Apr 2013 12:23 CDT I need to replace the foam insulated liner for my toilet or find a model similar to it. My house is 50 years old and has a crawl space, so it has to be insulated to prevent moisture sweating on the tank that drips on the tile. 1771952 http://www.kansascity.com/2013/04/09/4171456/picture-a-family-gallery-on-the.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/04/09/4171456/picture-a-family-gallery-on-the.html#storylink=rss Tue, 09 Apr 2013 14:49 CDT A staircase lined with familiar family photos is a reset button, a way to remain grounded, architect Dan Maginn writes. 1771955 http://www.kansascity.com/2013/02/15/4064446/let-there-be-affordable-light.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/02/15/4064446/let-there-be-affordable-light.html#storylink=rss Fri, 15 Feb 2013 08:00 CST My wife and I find ourselves in the midst of our own grunge movement -- the ongoing renovation of our house in Brookside. Like many other creative and fiscally challenged couples, we are interested in creating dynamic and inspired spaces without breaking the bank. Predictably, we have fully embraced the "Cobain," named for Kurt Cobain, the lead singer of Nirvana. 1771955 http://www.kansascity.com/2013/01/10/4000239/drawing-board-fireplace-inserts.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/01/10/4000239/drawing-board-fireplace-inserts.html#storylink=rss Thu, 10 Jan 2013 00:00 CST Now, as I sit in front of the fire with my family, I am reminded of my childhood and the role that a roaring fire played in warming it up. And as I add a chunk of oak and sit back, I can see my future moving forward. And with my warm wife on one side, and my warm 3-year-old on the other, it is decidedly rosy. 1771955 http://www.kansascity.com/2012/12/06/3948294/drawing-board-locavore-construction.html http://www.kansascity.com/2012/12/06/3948294/drawing-board-locavore-construction.html#storylink=rss Thu, 06 Dec 2012 13:00 CST Just as our food supply and production methods have globalized, so has our access to everything else, including building materials. It is not uncommon to have stone counters from the other side of the world without thinking twice about it, and we pick up lumber from the hardware store but we have little idea what forest it was cut from. But let's envision for a moment what the locavore version of residential building might look like. 1771955 http://www.kansascity.com/2012/11/07/3903411/drawing-board-fencing-material.html http://www.kansascity.com/2012/11/07/3903411/drawing-board-fencing-material.html#storylink=rss Wed, 07 Nov 2012 00:00 CST As an architect, I get along well with all kinds of metal, but I have a special affinity for weathering steel. Invented in the 1930s under the trademark COR-TEN, it is unique in that it gets rusty like regular steel, but it never completely corrodes. 1771955 http://kcgardens.kansascity.com/entries/poodles-pine-tree/ http://kcgardens.kansascity.com/entries/poodles-pine-tree/#storylink=rss Thu, 23 May 2013 00:00 CDT Hi, So happy I found your site! I purchased a Poodles Pine tree for my balcany in NYC 2 yrs ago & Poodles isn't looking good these days ;-( Love the tree, but she's getting dry, though I water her regularly. Her needles are fallin off, with the exception of some green coming out on the tips on the top 1771956 http://kcgardens.kansascity.com/entries/remove-tomato-blooms/ http://kcgardens.kansascity.com/entries/remove-tomato-blooms/#storylink=rss Tue, 21 May 2013 03:00 CDT The tomatoes I planted two weeks ago already have blooms. They are only about 10-12 inches tall 1771956 http://kcgardens.kansascity.com/entries/how-fertilize-vegetables-month/ http://kcgardens.kansascity.com/entries/how-fertilize-vegetables-month/#storylink=rss Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00 CDT So… how are your vegetables growing? With the cool April and May they probably got off to a slow start. But recent rains and warmer temperatures have kicked their growth into high gear 1771956 http://kcgardens.kansascity.com/entries/transplanting-hydrangeas-now/ http://kcgardens.kansascity.com/entries/transplanting-hydrangeas-now/#storylink=rss Mon, 20 May 2013 00:00 CDT I am wanting to transplant some hydrangeas today, would you recommend it? - Andy - 1771956 http://kcgardens.kansascity.com/entries/safe-lawn-control-pets/ http://kcgardens.kansascity.com/entries/safe-lawn-control-pets/#storylink=rss Mon, 20 May 2013 00:00 CDT Like many in our community we have weeds in our lawn that need to be controlled. I have yet to put down a granular weed and feed due to the weather, however, we have dogs that enjoy being outdoors in our backyard on a nice days (who wouldn't be!) 1771956 http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/24/4247918/airy-elegance-outdoor-decor-comes.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/24/4247918/airy-elegance-outdoor-decor-comes.html#storylink=rss Fri, 24 May 2013 13:00 CDT The selection has never been greater or more stylish for outdoor furniture. 1771950 http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/24/4247853/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-your.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/24/4247853/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-your.html#storylink=rss Fri, 24 May 2013 10:00 CDT Culinary herbs are singularly suited to growing in pots and other containers. They love a dry, airy perch. The only criterion, other than sunlight, is that it be handy so you can snip what you need for the kitchen. 1771950 http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/17/4235634/fabulous-faux-finishes-cover-a.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/17/4235634/fabulous-faux-finishes-cover-a.html#storylink=rss Fri, 17 May 2013 08:00 CDT Textured finishes for walls and cabinets are trending toward a lighter look. You shouldn't be able to tell what application process is used -- or where it starts and stops. And you can create the trendy look yourself. 1771950 http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/17/4235398/the-kc-stars-2013-quilt-project.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/17/4235398/the-kc-stars-2013-quilt-project.html#storylink=rss Fri, 17 May 2013 08:00 CDT The 2013 Kansas City Star quilt has a jewel theme and is called, appropriately, "Rubies, Diamonds, Garnets, Too …." The quilt features creamy to white fabrics with dots, checks, ditzies, florals, shirtings and plaids for the backgrounds. 1771950 http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/17/4235431/cool-blue-petunias-are-hot-for.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/17/4235431/cool-blue-petunias-are-hot-for.html#storylink=rss Fri, 17 May 2013 10:00 CDT Any plant that is blue, especially petunias, is flying off the shelves. No offense to you Pink Wave petunias, but it's the Blue Wave that seems to always be down to the last three plants whether they are at the big-box store or the mom-and-pop garden center. 1771950