THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 21, 1996 TAG: 9604190075
SECTION: HOME & GARDEN PAGE: G1 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: AROUND THE HOUSE
SOURCE: BY MARY FLACHSENHAAR, SPECIAL TO HOME & GARDEN
LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
``GOOD FENCES might make good neighbors, but good porches make good neighborhoods.''
A porch, continues the essay in the March/April issue of Century 21's House & Home magazine, is like a bridge from the cocoon-like safety of the home to the world beyond. A good one lets us make our entrance into the world easily and with little fanfare.
And a great one has style. These days, when the home place is celebrated as a cherished refuge, many a front porch has been blessed with a charming face lift. Even if yours doesn't have the cozy wooden swing pictured here, a few stylish touches can transform an ordinary porch into an enchanting place to escape.
A fresh coat of paint on the floorboards needn't be the traditional battleship gray. Whatever color you choose, a stenciled design on the painted floor will add interest. An alternative - scatter sisal rugs that have been spray-stenciled.
Attics, garage sales and flea markets might turn up just the right accessories. Look for baskets, straw hats, thermometers, vases, planters, watering cans and other garden tools. And remember, the old and slightly frayed look creates a fine porch ambience.
A porch is a place where neighbors leave things like borrowed rakes, missed deliveries, an extra bag of peat moss, points out House & Home. Make your porch a friendly place, and - who knows? - maybe someday a home-baked pie will appear.
To repair or not to repair?
When a household appliance breaks down, how do you know whether the problem is terminal or treatable?
The May issue of Good Housekeeping magazine offers tips on when to repair and when to replace.
A good rule of thumb is that if the repair bill is more than 40 percent to 50 percent of what it would cost to buy a new model (including delivery and installation), it may make more sense to replace the appliance. But first you should find out how many more years you can expect from the machine and what improved features new models have.
A call to the manufacturer's toll-free number might yield those answers. In addition, some companies have consumer service technicians who will suggest, by phone, what the problem might be and how much a repair might cost.
When choosing a repair service, a recommendation from the manufacturer or a satisfied customer is a better source than a Yellow Pages ad, says Good Housekeeping.
The magazine give facts and figures on five appliances. For instance, a dishwasher has an average life span of nine years. Repairing a water valve that won't open might cost about $110, labor and parts included. Another common problem is failure of the motor-wash system, which costs about $150 to fix.
New models range in price from $300 to $650. Improvements over the last 10 years include quieter operation, reduced water usage, improved energy efficiency and easier loading.
Coming clean
These home and garden tips come from the Los Angeles Times-Washington Post News Service:
To remove grime from telephone buttons and receiver holes, dip cotton balls in rubbing alcohol and wipe away soil.
Before adding soil to a flowerpot, place a large coffee filter in the bottom to keep dirt from leaking through drainage holes.
To remove mildew from old books and papers, sprinkle with talcum powder, cornmeal or cornstarch. Brush off after two days. ILLUSTRATION: CENTURY 21
[Color Photo]
by CNB