DATE: Sunday, April 20, 1997                TAG: 9704180083

SECTION: HOME & GARDEN           PAGE: G1   EDITION: FINAL 

COLUMN: AROUND THE HOUSE 

SOURCE: BY MARY FLACHSENHAAR, CORRESPONDENT 

                                            LENGTH:   90 lines

FUNNY LITTLE CRITTERS HANG AROUND ANYWHERE THEY FIND AN EDGE

THEY'RE HOPPING, climbing, crawling and splashing onto the gift-shop scene, one dozen lovable little creatures called Animal Accents.

The menagerie, which includes the bunny and cow pictured here and also an elephant, alligator, monkey, dolphin and that's-not-all, is for hanging on baskets, lampshades, mirrors and plants, anyplace with an edge, says the manufacturer, Cast Art Industries of California. The company makes small collectibles such as the line of cherubs called Dreamsicles.

Right now the animals, which are made of resin, sell for about $7 each at the four Forbes candy shops on Atlantic Avenue in Virginia Beach (at the corners of 22nd, 24th, 28th and 31st streets). According to a Cast Art spokesperson, the critter parade will soon wend its way into florists, garden shops, home centers and mass-market retailers across the country.

Leo Romero, the artist who created the animals, shared his inspiration in a press release: ``I saw a need for characters to hang on the outside of plants so you can see their whole bodies.''

When to go pro

Do you need to consult a professional about your building, remodeling or redecorating project? The current issue of Bedroom & Bath magazine offers this checklist to determine when it's time to call in an architect, interior designer, kitchen or bath designer.

You could benefit from a pro if:

You are planning to spend a substantial amount of money - more than you can risk - on your project.

You are building a new home. A job this big usually benefits from an architect.

You are making major structural changes or additions to your home.

You want access to a wider range of products than you can find on your own. Designers keep up-to-date and can often outfit a room with things that would never turn up in your local stores.

You have very specific needs, such as making rooms handicap accessible.

You just don't know where to begin.

About grout

Another tip from the same issue of Bedroom & Bath: Use colored grout in the bathroom to achieve a different look and add subtle accents. Black grout, by the way, is much easier to keep clean than white. While black may sound somber, it can be quite dramatic in the right color scheme.

Make the bathroom safe

Speaking of the bathroom, an article in a magazine called Home Safe & Sound points out that this room, with its slick surfaces and oft-used electrical outlets, is one of the most potentially hazardous rooms in the house. The article suggests these ways to make it a safe place:

Add a separate shower. Most accidents occur while people are climbing in and out of the tub. A walk-in shower without a threshold reduces the risk of falling.

Install grab bars. In the shower, for instance, a grab bar enables you to wash between your toes without having to do a balancing act.

Choose safe doors. Shower and tub enclosures should be of impact-resistant safety glass or acrylic. They should slide on tracks or open outward.

Consider heights of water controls. Place water controls where they can be adjusted before getting in the bath or shower.

Reject sharp edges. Choose rounded corners on counter tops, faucets, etc. Instead of sharp hooks, opt for rounded, oversized ones. Recess soap dishes in tubs and showers.

Store safely. Put safety stops on drawers and cabinet doors. Store medicines and chemicals in upper cabinets, out of children's reach.

Use ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs), which prevent electrical shock by instantly shutting off power to a faulty circuit.

Provide adequate lighting. And include night lights to make midnight trips less hazardous. No light fixture should be within reach of a person in the tub or shower.

Choose nonslip flooring. Experts recommend, for example, ceramic tile with a matte finish. Floors made of small tiles are safer because grout is not as slippery as tile.

Select the right locks. Locks that can be opened from both sides will allow you to rescue a child or incapacitated person who gets locked in.

Add proper ventilation like a window or exhaust fan. This will keep bathroom surfaces free from slippery condensation.

You can get a copy of the current issue of Home Safe & Sound, which also features articles on home security, carbon monoxide, radon and child-proofing basics, if you send $1.50 for shipping and handling to Home Safe & Sound, Free Offer number 4, P.O. Box 6960, Villa Park, IL 60181. For information call (888) 840-SAFE. ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]

CAST ART INDUSTRIES OF CALIFORNIA

Animal Accents hang on the sides of plants, baskets, lamps, mirrors

or almost anyplace with an edge.

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