NORTHJERSEY.COM ❚ THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2019 ❚ 1H
A SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION OF THE HERALD NEWS
Homescape
Designed For Living:
Master bedroom is suite
retreat in new home.
INTERIOR DESIGN ❚ HOME IMPROVEMENT
3H
Like it or not,
winter is coming;
prep your home
heating system
LESS IS MORE
Plan pre-season inspection
By FRAN J. DONEGAN
SPECIAL TO HOMESCAPE
I
PHOTOS COURTESY OF ULRICH
Clean lines, natural wood and an open floor plan enhance the Zen-like quality and Modern appeal of this European design-
influenced kitchen by Ulrich Inc. of Ridgewood. The kitchen/breakfast space flows to open dining and hearth rooms.
Euro-inspired kitchen
designs go Modern
Simple and clean styling preferred by consumers
By KATHIE ROBITZ
SPECIAL TO HOMESCAPE
A
mericans have always looked
to Europe for fashion cues,
even for kitchens. However,
unlike the Old World-inspired
Traditional style so popular until
recently, the look from across
the pond is now trending Modern.
“The latest advent of the European
style invasion in American kitchen and
bath industry can be seen in the influx
of unadorned, textured-laminate
cabinet doors and exotic veneer doors
with sleek or almost no hardware.
Today’s influences invoke more of
an industrial look as compared to
yesteryear’s more opulent European
influences, namely “Tuscan” and
“Mediterranean,” says designer Aparna
Vijayan of Ulrich, Inc., in Ridgewood.
“Textured laminates, Quartz
countertops, textured or ‘leathered’
natural-stone tops, live-edge wood
tops, and metal shelving with glass
inserts are what we are seeing,” adds
the designer. “The look is definitely
more Modern.”
In fact, a 2019 trends report
from the National Kitchen and Bath
Association (NKBA) supports that
assertion. “Clients often prefer simple
and clean styling over ornate details.
This is because minimalist style
appears to cater more to a busier
lifestyle.”
Increased technology has allowed
laminates to offer more realism
and texture, too, which is another
reason for their increasing popular-
ity, reports the NKBA. “Some lami-
nates even boast an authentic wood
Sleek cabinet and drawer pulls and industrial-like lighting fixtures, range hood
and island sink fixtures are integral design elements in this Ulrich kitchen.
look. Plus, dimensional finishes can be
achieved by using finishes with multi-
tonal characteristics for example, the
luster of metals may combine with
organic elements in the kitchen.”
To soften the sometimes-hard
edges of modern materials, Vijayan
says designers are including a few
traditional elements for a more tran-
sitional overall appeal in American
homes. Even so, trend watchers pre-
dict contemporary design is poised to
quickly overtake transitional style as
the number one consumer favorite.
“This look is gaining popularity
with the millennials as they have an
insatiable desire to stay with the trend
curves and are always looking for the
next new thing that hits the market,”
she adds.
HARDWARE WITH EUROPEAN
KNOW-HOW PLUS FLARE
European-inspired cabinetry calls
for sleek hardware style. “That’s why
people are choosing pulls more often
than knobs these days,” comments
Monica Lawless of Hardware Designs
in Fairfield. “Consumers prefer their
clean linear shape because it is mod-
ern-looking.”
Outfitting cabinets for beauty
and convenience is important,
too. “European hardware technol-
ogy from manufacturers like Blum,
Richelieu, Hefele, and Rev A Shelf are
what most leading American cabinet
manufacturers use for door and draw-
er closing and cabinet accessories,”
See KITCHENS, Page 4H
f your home heating system is going to conk out this
winter, it’s a safe bet it will happen when the snow is
thigh high and the temperature is dropping rapidly.
It always happens that way. But you can help guard
against a shivering night waiting for the repairman with
some preventive maintenance now.
There are a few things that homeowners can do to keep
their homes comfortable, but the most important is to set
up a pre-heating season maintenance visit by a qualified
heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) contrac-
tor. “This should be done yearly,” said Danny Acosta, ser-
vice manager for Bloomfield Cooling, Heating and Electric
in Little Falls. “We have to make sure that everything is
running right because the system hasn’t been used since
the spring.”
Another reason for
a yearly maintenance
check: “Small problems
can be detected early,”
said John Bolkema of
Bolkema Fuel Company
in Mahwah. “And small
problems can cause
big inefficiencies in the
system, and they can lead
to big repair bills if not
caught early.”
THE HEATING
SYSTEM TUNE-UP
Different types of heat-
ing systems require dif-
GETTY IMAGES
ferent maintenance steps.
Replacing
the
dust
filter in
“But we always check the
a forced air heating system
chimney and flues for all
can be done by the home-
gas-fired and oil-fired
owner every three months
furnaces and boilers,”
during the heating season.
said Bolkema. “You have
to make sure there is proper draft in the chimneys.”
The technician will check and clean the burners and
flame sensors, and make sure the controls are working
properly. They will check for leaks within the system and
test the low-water cutoff and pressure relief valves on boilers.
“We also check the gas pressure because PSE&G is
converting everybody’s lines from low pressure to high
pressure,” said Acosta. “It’s important that the pressure is
right, especially for high-efficiency units.”
The contractor may perform an efficiency test on the
system. The annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) mea-
sures how much fuel a furnace or boiler converts to heat
and how much is wasted. The higher the percentage, the
more fuel converted to heat. Some of today’s systems
have AFUEs in the 90s.
While the HVAC contractor is working on your system
is a good time to raise any concerns you may have, such as
the funny noise the system makes. Oftentimes minor prob-
lems require a small adjustment to set them right.
SERVICE PLANS
Regular maintenance will not only help keep the system
running smoothly, it is a must if you want a maintenance
plan from a HVAC contractor because plans always include
an in-home system inspection and tune-up. Plan specifics
vary from company to company, but they usually include
the maintenance visit and a plan that covers major com-
ponents of the system, and sometimes the labor necessary
to make the repair. There are plans for heating systems,
and those that cover heating and central air conditioning.
Plans provide a certain level of peace of mind. “Systems
break down when it is really cold and all of the heating
repair guys are extremely busy,” said Bolkema. “And, in
general, rates go up at night, on weekends and on holi-
days.” Being part of a maintenance plan means you have a
number to call 24/7 when there is an emergency.
“When a customer calls, we get to them within 24 hours,”
See HOME HEATING, Page 4H
Choosing a front door for beauty and practicality
By TERI GATTO
SPECIAL TO HOMESCAPE
A
front door offers a home
more than security; it is the
focal point of a house, the
first architectural feature
a guest sees and passersby notice.
It makes that memorable first impres-
sion and sets the tone for what
visitors can expect to see inside the
home.
“A front door is a long-term
investment, so it’s important that
you choose a door that you really
like,” says Stephen Huebner of North
Jersey Door Center in Ramsey.
“Before shopping for the door, take
a photo of the front of your house
so a professional can guide you as
to the best style options, and also get
some rough measurements so you
can get an accurate estimate for the
complete job.”
“Try to avoid companies that
have high-pressure sales methods,”
advises James Cangialosi of Taylor
Door in Paterson. “Many large com-
panies have sales teams who come
to your home and use high-pressure
methods to close the sale. They usu-
ally will start with a very inflated price
and then offer you what seems to be
a deep discount if you sign the papers
right there and then.”
A MATTER OF STYLE
According to Huebner, currently
two of the most popular exterior
door styles sold in North Jersey are
Craftsman and Modern.
See FRONT DOORS, Page 2H
PHOTO COURTESY OF TAYLOR DOOR
This simple, yet elegant front
entry door from Taylor Door in
Paterson features decorative glass
and side panels, enhancing
the curb appeal of this home.