Spaces Eureka

An Artful Second ActA Historic Home in Eureka Takes on Modern Touches

PLUS• Style-Savvy Organization • Festive Local Events• Life in the Trees

EUREKA, CALIFORNIA

April/May 2009

april/may i 2009 i spaces 3

Follow your own path... Follow your own path... Follow your own path... choose choose choose

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EUREKA, CALIFORNIA

Volume 1 • Issue 1 spacesmag.com

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PresidentJim Diaz

MAnAGinG editor John Cargile

CreAtiVe direCtor Yashpal Singh

AssoCiAte editorRyan Peacock

Art direCtorsJennifer HarlowMarissa Ayres

AssistAnt editorCaitlin Kelly

3801 E. Florida Ave., Suite 100Denver, Colorado 80210

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editoriAl direCtor

Denise [email protected]

ContributinG PhotoGrAPher

Brian J. Smeets

Published for The Times-Standard Company

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GrouP AdVertisinG direCtorShonnie Bradbury

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707/441-0500times-standard.com

SPACES Is Produced By:

contents

6 Designed to De-Clutter Get your act together in the most stylish of ways.

7 Clutter Queen Comes Clean Jennifer Humes shares her top 10 ways

to get organized.

8 An Artful Second Act Architect John Ash and wife Dolores Vellutini

add beautifully modern touches to their

1912 Eureka home.

18 Outdoor Living: Top-Notch Style Tree houses offer myriad ways to have

family fun.

20 Home-Ec 101 Know the latest scoop on living well at home.

22 Decorating: Armoire Au Revoir? Consider 12 options for giving your

TV cabinet a new lease on life.

24 Save the Date Get out and enjoy what’s happening in our area.

26 Finishing Touch A look at the work of painter Micki Dyson-Flatmo.

April/May 2009 spacesmag.com

on the CoVer: Working with his Eureka kitchen’s existing footprint, architect John Ash added more storage, another sink-prep area, and lighted, glass-front cabinets to showcase collected art and decorative glassware. A new island allows for cook-prep as well as entertaining. Butcher-block countertops add a durable, organic touch to the room, while speckled veneered cabinetry in light gray (which takes on a pale green cast in the warm evening light) is easy to clean. True to the home’s historic interior touches is a new flooring of durable linoleum, which is soft to stand on and ultra-durable. Its warm rust color complements the leather seating at the island’s peninsula. Photo by Brian J. Smeets

COvER STORy

EUREKA, CALIFORNIA

april/may i 2009 i spaces 5 Arcata

On the Plaza | 822-7732 Eureka

5th and F Street | 441-1380 McKinleyville City Center Road | 839-1250

home furnishings, fine art, and gifts for everyone

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style watch

Clutter Queen Comes Clean Jennifer Humes, a.k.a. “The Clutter Queen,” is regularly featured in national magazines along with her tips on getting—and staying—organized. Here, exclusively for our “Get Organized” issue, she offers Spaces readers her top 10 ways to banish clutter from our homes.

1) stop using non-removable labels or tape that can be messy or fade over time. Invest in a label maker and several different types of labeling tape. You’ll quickly know the contents of whatever’s labeled and your family won’t have to decipher your handwriting.

2) Annually organize and clean out the active areas of your life: closet, bathroom and kitchen. This is an excellent way to remind yourself of what you have. You may not have to go shopping for new things after all.

3) Get rid of everything you don’t wear. seriously. It’s not the end of the world so why waste the space on unused items?

4) never keep something just because you received it as a gift or from another family member. If you don’t love it, don’t keep it. It’s that simple.

5) return all those products you thought were going to help you get organized that you haven’t used. Purchasing organizing products before you organize is not organizing. (Waiting to see what needs storage first is.)

6) if an item (furnishing, accessory, etc.) doesn’t work in one room, try using it in another. For items in transition keep them centrally located in the garage or basement. If after a year you don’t find a purpose for it, get rid of it.

7) Put things away after you use them (i.e., your toothbrush and toothpaste). It takes twice the time and effort to put it away later.

8) let it go, let it go, let it go. It’s always the season to give. Why store an unused bed in the garage when it can provide a place for someone to sleep at a local homeless shelter? Think of all the clothes, shoes and coats you no longer wear. They will help keep someone warm when there is no heat.

9) donate old sports gear to a local charity. You’ll be giving to the community and someone will benefit.

10) recycle all the miscellaneous paper products lying around your house, including junk mail, kids’ school homework, and empty cardboard boxes. You’ll probably empty a huge portion of the garage and/or attic and definitely help the environment.

For more on Humes’ organizational ideas, visit clutterqueen.com.

Get your act together in the most stylish ways

By Denise Gee

E ver wonder why the houses featured in magazines look like they’ve

never had to accommodate stacks of paperwork or a tangle of re-

charging cell phones or a landfill of toys? Usually it’s because the owners

(or stylists) have hid every trace of real-life living just before the shoot.

Believe us, folks—that stuff is there—somewhere. No one is perfect. But at

least it’s possible to have beautifully organized chaos. Here are some

of our favorite examples of products meant to help you achieve just that.

Designed to De-Clutter

u Slim Shady Keys, notepads, cell phones and the like are the curse of kitchen counters everywhere. This shallow-depth Wall Message Center from Diamond Logix storage solutions sets out to discreetly hide all your necessities. The 3-inch deep cabinet, ideally designed to work with Diamond Cabinets, features a dry-erase board on the inside of the cabinet door to write notes to yourself or others or put a magnet to a photo; there are also hooks, and clearly contained shelving for holding pads, phones and the like. Each cabinet is 12 inches wide and comes in heights of 30, 36, and 42 inches; $255 to $355; Arcata Cabinet and Design; 5000 West End Road, Arcata; diamondcabinets.com or 707/826-2680.

p Birds-Eye View Office supplies needn’t look like Pentagon cast-offs; in fact, they can be useful and stylish. This Room Service Home office caddy, an homage to a Victorian birdcage, features an aged black finish and three shelves for having desk necessities stacked in your favor. $149; roomservicehome.com or 800/588-1170.

q Shining Moments You’ll be the subject of garage envy with this stainless steel Viper 304 system from Sears. The modular component system features a variety of storage options, many conveniently on wheels. It is sold as a basic five-piece combo ($1,690) or as separate units from $130 and up; Bayshore Mall Sears, 3300 Broadway, Eureka; sears.com or 707/441-2900.

u Hidden Asset We’ve come to accept that cords have to take up a lot of needed room on a bedside table, but the editors at Better Homes and Gardens say it’s time to think differently. Working with Universal Furniture, the magazine’s design team has devised a variety of furnishings that solve problems as well as look great. This American Inspirations bedside table (item# 858360) has a lift-top back section for handling and hiding a variety of cords and other items you want out of sight; About $550; bhgfurniture.com or 877/804-5535.

p Up and At ‘Em Bunk beds are perfect for children’s rooms—not only because they can harbor toys in the top bunk (when not in use by a sleepover friend), but also because, in this case, they can allow for a youth desk underneath. We love the mod look of this Uffuzi one, here in orange and ebony. It’s also green—material-wise, at least—because it’s made from sustainable wood with non-toxic finishes. For ages 6 and up. About $1,850; argington.com.

p Bound for Glory It’s refreshing to see that binders haven’t been ignored in the modern design movement. These, from Russell+Hazel, feature striking graphic patterns to dress up your workspace. And, with reinforced corners, davey board exteriors, dry-erase interiors, laminated spines, and rubberband closures, they’ll be durable enough for everyday use. Each 1 ½-inch ring binder holds 275 sheets and is made from recycled materials. $24; russellandhazel.com or 888/254-5837.

u Neat-Oh Tax time and the livin’ ain’t easy. (Oy, the receipts.) The solution? Try NeatReceipts, a sleek mobile scanning and digital filing system for both PCs and Macs. It uses innovative software to read and file business cards, receipts and other documents so that they can be instantly organized and accessible. You can even export the receipts data into Excel, Quicken, QuickBooks, and TurboTax. About $200; neatco.com or 866/632-8732.

april/may i 2009 i spaces 9

cover story

An Artful Second Act

By Denise Gee Photography by Brian J. Smeets

olores Vellutini never imagined that after spending nearly 20 years in the historic home where she raised three children, both she—and the house—would embark on a new chapter in life. That period would follow after the death of her husband, Ray Vellutini. Before then, she and Ray had invested a lot of energy into the home—a beautifully weathered, cedar-shingled Craftsman-style dwelling built in 1912, one surrounded by lush, well-manicured environs. “I don’t know what it was about it that appealed to us most,” she says, looking back to 1973, when the couple and their young family purchased the nearly 7,000-square-foot place. “It was just the greatest house. It wasn’t one thing that stood out—it was the whole thing—the size of the rooms, the views from the windows. It just felt like home.”

John Ash and Dolores Vellutini have created

a home that reflects their love of each other,

creative design, and the natural beauty of Eureka

d

To better define the lush grounds surrounding their historic Eureka home, architect John Ash and wife Dolores Vellutini added a new concrete fence with a massive concrete gate (above). The copper, with its weathered, sea-blue patina, is a nod to “both the solidness and beauty of our relationship,” John says. Imbedded within the concrete are cracks filled with river rocks. “The people working on this project couldn’t believe I wanted it to be imperfect,” he says, but the plan was “to have it truly reflect an organic quality.”

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A striking and stalwart sculpture by regional artist Melvin Schuler (previous page), made of copper over redwood, makes for a beautiful view at the back of the home, which was built in 1912 for the Jerry Malley family. It links nicely with the home’s window trim. New glass doors, in the same sunny hue as the home’s window trim, help better invite the view into the home—and provide accessibility to the outdoors.

The existing Japanese garden was cultivated by Dolores and her first husband. “It’s so peaceful, and was especially therapeutic for Ray toward the end of his life,” she says. Throughout the property, where a small creek (right) flows to and from a waterfall pond, are well-established rhododendrons, Japanese maples, camellias, firs, and cherry trees—much of which was put in by an earlier owner, Garnet Kramer. John expanded the concrete around the existing 16- x 32-foot pool and added a glass windscreen at the back of the realm. “Because this part of the house faces south, it makes for a sunny place to be,” Dolores says. “Actually it can get really hot there in the late afternoon, so we have a crank-out awning for protection.” The couple’s gray standard poodle, Zulu, often can be spotted romping about, while Dolores and John read, tend to plants, or entertain company.

That was especially true once she put her own mark on the place. “The first thing I did was take down the heavy curtains in order to look out,” she recalls. “But beyond that, when we purchased the house, its condition was very good. It was a house you could easily move into. Sure, there were a lot of things that we wanted to do, and ultimately did. But the house had always been owned by people that loved it—none of the woodwork had been painted, for instance—and it showed.” Fast-forward to 1993, two years after the passing of her husband. That’s when Dolores began researching progressive-minded architects to help structurally retrofit some of the downtown buildings owned by her development company, Vellutini Properties. The address in question was 422 1st Street, the second oldest commercial building in Eureka. As it turned out, Dolores would indeed find the right person to help her with the project: John Ash, a prominent L.A. architect who’d been recommended by a friend. Dolores and John connected instantly “over art and buildings and architecture,” she says. And ultimately, and unexpectedly, fell in love. John and Dolores began spending more time together, and by the late 1990s, John had opened a second architecture office in Eureka, working on both commercial and residential projects. The Detroit native has worked as an architect for more than 25 years, and since moving to L.A. in the late ’70s, has worked on the city’s Memorial Coliseum, the Fillmore Theater, the Getty Museum, and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Ennis House. His primary focus has been on historic preservation and increasingly, live-work architecture. (His current project is the Madame

Green GenesJohn Ash is a proponent of green building and his remodeled home features a variety of elements to make the home more energy efficient and sustainable.• Hydronic radiant heat flooring downstairs

heats the rooms from the floor up, allowing for an overall level of comfort throughout the space.

• A new, more efficient boiler and tankless water heater offer on-demand service so that water isn’t heated unnecessarily.

• Homasote fiber board (made from recycled paper) is used for interior attic roof insulation and soundproofing.

• In-wall insulation made of recycled denim (“actually old Levi’s,” John says) is in the master bathroom, where the sun’s rays are most harsh.

• Low-E glass is used in the new windows and doors of the sunny breakfast nook.

• Fortified old windows (via tightened sashes, re-built jambs, replaced caulking/weather stripping) reduce air infiltration.

• Preserved linoleum (see “Soft on Linoleum,” page 15) “recycles a historic material in place to preserve the character of the house,” John says.

cover story

april/may i 2009 i spaces 11

“We use this large, open room more as a gallery space,” Dolores says. Modern Barcelona chairs (designed by acclaimed German architect Mies van der Rohe in 1929 and now sold by Knoll) subtly define a conversation area (left) surrounded by abundant natural light and art. The raised animal sculpture at the far end of the room is by Los Angeles artist Ron Pippin. On the window seat, the ceramic paper bag sculpture (an homage to Ray Vellutini’s success as a grocer) was a gift to Dolores by former Humboldt State art teacher Reese Bullen. The home’s golden oak flooring “supposedly came to Eureka ’round the horn on a ship,” Dolores says. “It had been under carpet for many years, so fortunately it’s in perfect condition.”

John redesigned the area of the kitchen that once held a butler’s pantry, transforming it into a bumped-out, light-filled nook (above) providing magnificent views of the pool, garden, and new reflecting pond. Large-scale picture windows frame the vista, and glass doors offer easy access to the outdoors. A clean-lined glass table also helps beautifully reflect what’s outside. Prominent in the view is a potting shed John designed—one that, with corrugated plastic in between the boards, “makes it look like a lantern when it’s lit from within at night,” Dolores says.

Tussaud building that will be next to Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood.) By 2001, the couple was married—in the home’s Japanese garden. “My mom was matron of honor, his father, then in his late 80s, was his best man,” Dolores says. “It was a very small, very beautiful ceremony.” Besides being taken by Eureka’s distinctive historic architecture (and Dolores, of course), John also loved the natural beauty of the region—going so far to even create a nonprofit kayak-focused group, Explore the North Coast, which helped provide a water trail for the region. After working together on the downtown project that brought them together, and ultimately others (including a waterfront project still in the works), the couple began to work on their own home, which has become a gallery of sorts for all the artwork they have collected over the years. Beyond the décor, though, John knew the bones and flow of the house needed updating. His first hint at the possibilities was when he stuck his head through a small attic-access door in an upstairs closet. That’s when he saw a 1,100-square-foot unfinished space with 14-foot ceilings—a space he realized would make the ideal place for them to share their home offices and art studio. (Both are accomplished artists—she working in mixed-media and he with a variety of mediums.)

cover story

“Everything

we added is

contemporary

but reflects

the historic

character

of the house.

It’s a beautiful

marriage of

the old and

the new.”

— architect John Ash

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Soft on LinoleumGenuine, natural linoleum (a.k.a. Marmoleum)—not to be confused with vinyl (a plastic-based material)—was invented nearly 150 years ago, but remains completely modern in its green appeal. According to one of the product’s leading manufacturers, Armstrong Flooring, the flooring stems from linseed oil, which derives from the flax plant (in Latin, “linum” means linseed and “oleum” means oil)—giving it its inherent pliability, or softness. Other ingredients used to make the product include wood or cork powder, resins, ground limestone, and mineral pigments, which provide its rich colors. The flooring can last up to 40 years if installed and maintained correctly.

Near the front door is an art vignette anchored by an antique black walnut sideboard topped with gray marble (far left). Showcased there is a sand-casting by local artist Melvin Schuler; the three drawings above it are by local artist Peggy Irvine; the vibrant medallion above is by artist Jim Crawford; and the three glass vessels were found at San Francisco’s de Young Museum. Vinyl grass cloth-style wallpaper helps provide a neutral backdrop and is easy to clean.

Much of the home’s original linoleum flooring is preserved in the home, and because in many places it was covered by carpeting, it only needed minor repair work to bring it back to light. The couple’s favorite example of it is in their bedroom (left). “This particular pattern reminds me of an Indian print or rug,” Dolores says, noting that its pattern almost reflects that of a textile. A small Danish-style chair sits near one of the windows. “I found that in L.A.,” she says. “Someone had thrown it away simply because there was a small hole in the caning. I fixed it and love it.”

From the remodeled third-floor treetop perch, Dolores focuses a good bit of time on her role as director of North Valley Bancorp (where her daughter Andrea Pedley works) and also as director and owner of Vellutini Properties (operated with help from her son Joseph). Previously she has been president of the Eureka Baking Company (now the Vellutini Bread Co., owned by her son Vincent). Having been born and raised in Ferndale, her family’s roots run deep in the region, and that inspires her activism in historic preservation. To that end, she oversaw an intense, 13-year project to create the survey of historic buildings in the region: Eureka: An Architectural Review was published in 1987. “The house has undergone a number of renovations, each one requiring careful attention to detail in order to maintain the historical context while judiciously introducing some contemporary design elements,” John says of his most personally fulfilling project. Primarily that has involved adding green design elements to the home to make it more energy efficient; bringing more storage and entertaining space to the kitchen, and better connecting its view with the outdoors; opening up the bathroom adjacent to the master bedroom; and creating more living space outdoors. There’s also a new front fence in place, one that represents the bond between Dolores and John. “The copper gate represents both the solidness and beauty of our relationship, and the concrete walls, with purposefully exposed cracks and imbedded river rocks, represents the pressures we weather as we move through life,” John says. Such a concept is at the core of the Eastern philosophy wabi-sabi—an aesthetic focused on the beauty of transience—of which John is a believer. “Basically it reflects that everything is either becoming or declining,” he says. “That’s the same process with a house. That’s what keeps life interesting.”

cover story

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One of the home’s downstairs bathrooms—featuring its original speckled linoleum (left)—received a creative update by Dolores, who painted the base of the tub a rust color to better link to one of the flooring speckles. She also added the same paint color to the radiator and pipes under a sink that’s just beyond. Above the tub is an artichoke drawing by local artist Bob Lopez.

The home’s new master bathroom exists in the space formerly housing a small, cramped bathroom and adjacent bedroom—thought to have been used by the original owner’s valet. After John’s revamp of the space (right), the larger room is now anchored by a two-sided marble-top vanity “so two people getting dressed don’t get in each other’s way,” Dolores says. The red sculpture atop it is by local artist Glenn Berry. Also new are a large walk-in shower and, across the way, a sauna. “It’s incredible. Every day I walk in and smile. It’s a joy,” Dolores says. “I love having room to have all my clothing in the space without having everything in different places. It’s made all the difference.”

Architect:

Tile:

Concrete work:

Plumbing:

Cabinetry:

Appliances:

Linoleum restoration:

Decorative metalwork:

New glass:

Steel work:

John Ash, AIA, 707/442-6125 or jagarchitects.comCarbonneau Ceramic Tile, 707/443-8842 or ceramictileman.comDCI Builders, 707/786-5450 or dcibuilders.comMaples Plumbing, 707/445-2500 or maplesplumb.comFinigan & Thonson Woodworks, 707/822-8522Franke sink (800/626-5771 or franke.com); Wolf stove (800/332-9513 or wolfappliance.com); Samsung refrigerator (samsung.com), available at Costco (707/441-8750 or costco.com) Carpet Express, 707/445-1805 or carpetexpresseureka.comO & M Industries, 707/822-8800 or omindustries.comFortuna Glass & Paint Co., 707/725-4486Fortuna Iron, 707/725-2608 or fortunairon.com

Local Expertise

cover story

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outdoor living

Top-Notch Style

amilies have long treasured their tree houses, with parents and their children working together to build one in the backyard and building memories as the kids enjoy it as they grow up. From the famous tree houses belonging to “Swiss Family Robinson” and “The Simpsons,” to the ones in the movies “Stand by Me” and “The Sandlot,” tree houses are also part of pop culture. Today, there are many resources for families to use when learning how to build a child’s tree house. For less than $1,000 and about a couple weekends of work, moms and dads can team up with their children to build a tree house.

CHOOSE A TREE: Tree house expert Michael Garnier says large, dominant trees such as Douglas fir, oak or pine work well. The tree should not be so young that it has significant growth ahead of it, because it may outgrow the design. You also don’t want one that is fully mature and close to dying, says Garnier, who makes a living building tree houses and operates a tree house resort in Oregon. The trees only need to be eight to 10 inches in diameter, “like a good sized post,” Garnier says. Also, tree houses can be built on more than one tree, and also can have posts buried into the ground for additional support, so don’t fret if you don’t have a single big tree in the yard.

DON’T AIM TOO HIGH: Trees move in the wind, so don’t pick a tree with the idea of putting the house in its extreme upper reaches. Tree houses generally are at least 6 feet off the ground.

CHECK WITH OTHERS: Ask your neighbors out of respect for their privacy if they mind if you build a tree house. (Think Bart Simpson, who could look into his neighbors’ houses from his tree house.) After the neighbors sign off on the project, find out if you need a building permit for a tree house. While it varies by municipality, Jacob says cities and counties generally require a permit for anything 200 square feet or larger.

f

BE KIND TO THE TREE: Remember that putting in bolts and nails is an invasive process and injures the tree, so try not to overdo it when it comes to hammering or screwing things into the tree. HAVE FUN WITH DESIGN: Creative sorts, especially dads whose day jobs are in construction, architecture or engineering, probably can come up with their own designs. However, there are some how-to books available that have handy-dandy design concepts for tree houses. One of those, Treehouses & Playhouses You Can Build, has been written by David and Jeanie Stiles. The book gives extremely detailed design instructions and illustrations to guide families through the entire construction process—including roles for children.

TOOL AROUND: Make sure you have the right tools to start the job. Some essential tools are simple and obvious: hammer, tape measure, pencil, ladder, and saw. You also need a level, some kind of wrench, a block plane for shaving wood, a chisel, and a rope to lift beams into the tree. In the realm of power tools, consider a table or circular saw to cut wood easily, a variable speed reversible drill, or an electric jigsaw. Get a battery powered or cordless drill for easier work in the trees.

USE THE RIGHT LUMBER: Construction-grade cedar or even cypress is best for beams. Save money by using plywood for the windows and enclosures. Make sure wood is pressure treated if you are going to bury it in the ground as a post.

HIT HOME BASE: The first part of the tree house that should be designed and constructed is the platform, from which everything else is built. Their foundations should be bolted to trees and reinforced with braces; they also can be supported by posts buried in the ground. Garnier says building codes typically require a foundation design to hold 50 pounds per square foot. Scaffolding boards, which generally are about 2 inches thick, are a good option for platforms.

DECORATE & FORTIFY: Once the platform is erected, a partial or complete enclosure can be built on top, complete with windows and doors. Railings are necessary for safety’s sake, just don’t make them too high, as smaller children can fit under them. Put a roof on the tree house to protect from rain, and falling branches and leaves. Ladders also are important. Hide them behind the tree for visitors to ask, “Hey, how did you get up there?” — The Associated Press

Tree houses offer myriad ways to have family fun

By Adrian Sainz

Families have long treasured their tree houses, with parents and their children working together to build one in the backyard—and building memories as the kids enjoy it as they grow up. Photo: Michael Garnier

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In these times

of economic

uncertainty,

it makes sense

to find ways

to save money

at home.

We dusted off

some frugal-

living tips we

heard growing

up and came

up with a few

of our own for

today’s world.

Try them out

and save

for yourself.

By Pamela Bunn

p GO WITH THE (LOW) FLOW A long, hot shower is a great way to start your morning, but it’s a drain on your wallet and our region’s water supply. The responsible thing to do is replace your old 5-gallon-a-minute showerhead with a low-flow version. The federal government requires that new showerheads use no more than 2.5 gallons a minute, and you can find one that uses even less. This home improvement saves water and lowers your utility bills.

t FAN FAVORITE The temperature may rise, but your energy costs don’t have to. Here’s a year-round solution: Install a ceiling fan, cool off and save up to 40 percent in air-conditioning costs this summer. In winter, reverse the switch so the air flows up instead of down; heat that rises naturally can then circulate throughout the room. You’ll stay warm and snug while saving up to 10 percent in heating costs.

q COMMERCIAL BREAK While we all have guilty TV pleasures (“General Hospital,” anyone?), is there a single soul who really needs to keep up with people like the Kardashians? Make

a pact with yourself to keep the television off one or two nights a week. This will reduce your carbon footprint as well as save you money—and brain cells. What can you do to fill the time? Catch up with friends and family, play Scrabble, or better yet, read this magazine!

t DRY THIS Looking a little worn around the edges? Save wear and tear on your clothes by removing them from the dryer and hanging them up while they’re still slightly damp. Your garments will require less ironing and won’t shrink as much, and you’ll be saving energy at the same time. And if you let the sun provide the finishing touch, your clothes will have that fresh, clean, outdoorsy smell you just can’t get from a perfumed dryer sheet.

home-ec 101

t NIGHT LIGHT Add a little romance to your life and lower your electric bill at the same time. Pick one night a week to dine by candlelight. That’s right, turn off the lights, set the ambiance with flickering candles and enjoy your meal the old-fashioned way. Want to save even more? Make a dish that doesn’t require cooking, like a hearty salad with some Brie and baguettes. Clink wine glasses with someone special and bask in the warm glow. Don’t forget to use cloth napkins instead of paper.

Before bottled water was conveniently delivered to your door, there was the good ol’ faucet. Well, it’s time to embrace our region’s municipal water once again, and with the many accolades it’s received in recent years, don’t be afraid to turn to the tap. You’ll save heaps of money by not buying bottled, and get kudos for easing transportation pollution. Not convinced that your old pipes will deliver crystal-clear goodness? Invest in a water-purification system that you can screw right onto your faucet or buy a filtered pitcher.

u SPARKLING TAP

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decorating

Armoire Au Revoir? leek flat-panel televisions, typically mounted to walls or perched on credenzas, have practically rendered the bulky but lovely furnishing known as the TV armoire superfluous in many households. And when people want to get rid of these oversized pieces, they aren’t finding many takers at garage sales (they’re not geared to impulse purchases). Subsequently, homeowners usually find themselves having to donate the pieces for tax write-offs. Fortunately, some thrift shops are willing participants in the trade-off. “We sell them pretty quickly,” says Stacy Brown of the American Cancer Society Discovery Shop in Eureka. “They typically sell for about $200 each”—which is a great deal considering they were usually purchased for more than five times that amount. Before unloading your armoire to a thrift shop, however, think about how the piece can still be used. If you aren’t crafty enough to give the armoire a second life, know that giving it a second home—and potentially a second life there—might be just the ticket to creative re-use.

Consider

12 new

uses for

that

behemoth

Tv cabinet

“Armoires are popular here because they’re nice-looking pieces. And they sell for a lot less than what people originally paid for them.”

— Stacy BrownAmerican Cancer Society Discovery Shop, Eureka

Child’s room:China hutch:

Garage cabinetry:

Home office:

Humidor:

Kitchen pantry:

Linen closet:

Paint it a fun color and store toys inside of it.Add lighting, shelves and glass doors for displaying dishes.Keep the large spaces for storing bulk items. Or add hooks and cubbies for tools.Add a hinged desktop that can be in some way supported underneath.Add a hole in back for ventilation and cedar liners to keep cigars fresh.Add hooks for pots and pans and shelves for baking trays; install a blackboard inside the door for grocery lists.Add shelves for towels and sheets. Add cedar to repel moths.

Liquor cabinet:

Media archive: Mudroom lockers:

Outdoor bar and kitchen:

Shoe storage:

Add racks for hanging glasses from the ceiling. Install a shelf that pulls out as a cutting board for garnishes and another shelf for cocktail books. Use glass shelves for liquor bottles. Add wine-storage cubbies underneath. Add lighting and install mirrored panels.Add shelves and racks for compact discs and DVDs.Remove doors and add cubbies, hooks and a mirror.For a rustic look, strip wood if desired and use a marine varnish to protect the piece from the weather (keep protected under a covered patio). Add a small outdoor refrigerator and potentially a piece of granite as a display/cutting area.Add cubbies, racks and baskets.

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Save the date

Wine and Dandy April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Every Thursday in April is Art of Wine Gourmet Night. From 5 to 8 each evening, chefs John Salizzoni and Timothy Hendrix prepare new and delicious dishes, and guests age 21 and older can enjoy wines carefully chosen to complement the food. Tickets are $10 per person, but prices may vary depending on the food being served. 308 2nd Street, Eureka; 707/268-0626 or humboldtartofwine.com.

Screen Scene April 2 The Humboldt Arts Council offers First Thursday Film Night at the Morris Graves Museum of Art on the first Thursday of every month, featuring free screenings of award-winning independent films. This month’s film, Made in America, chronicles the history of violence and unrest in south-central Los Angeles. The screening begins at 6 p.m. 636 F St., Eureka; 707/442-0278 or humboldtarts.org.

Secret Garden Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays beginning April 2 Don’t miss the Ferndale Repertory’s performance of the musical, “The Secret Garden,” opening on Thursday, April 2, and showing every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 8 p.m. (2 p.m. on Sundays). 447 Main St., Ferndale; 707/786-5483 or ferndale-rep.org.

Brahms Meets Mozart April 3 and 4 Enjoy an evening of classical music with the Eureka Symphony Orchestra’s “Danube Adventure” when it performs Johannes Brahms’s Hungarian Dances Nos. 1, 3, 20 & 5, featuring pianist John Chernoff. Following the intermission, the orchestra will play Mozart’s Symphony No. 38, K.504 Prague. The concert begins at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 3, and Saturday, April 4, at the Arkley Center for the Performing Arts. 412 G Street, Eureka; 707/442-1956 or arkleycenter.com.

The Art Of Reading Saturdays beginning April 4 The Humboldt Arts Council offers free KEET-TV Kid’s Club workshops for children, parents and childcare providers from noon to 2 p.m. at the Morris Graves Museum of Art. The workshops feature reading and art activities designed to help children develop reading and critical thinking skills. This month’s featured book is The Surprise Garden by Zoe Hall. 636 F St., Eureka; 707/442-0278 or humboldtarts.org.

Celtic Kick April 12 Irish and folk music fans should make their way to Gallagher’s Irish Pub and Restaurant for the Second Sunday Celtic Music Session on April 12, hosted by musician Seabury Gould with Scatter the Mud. People are invited to bring their instruments and participate, or simply sit back and enjoy the music. The free session begins at 7 p.m. 139 2nd Street, Old Town Eureka; 707/442-1177 or gallaghers-irishpub.com.

In Tune With Tune April 19 Nine-time Tony Award winner Tommy Tune and his band, the Manhattan Rhythm Kings, are sure to deliver an upbeat evening of song and dance on April 19 at the Arkley Center for the Performing Arts. 412 G St., Eureka; 707/442-1956 or arkleycenter.com.

Rhododendron Fest April 25 Celebrate the arrival of spring and the blooming rhododendron flowers at the Rhododendron Parade and Festival beginning at 10 a.m. Enjoy marching bands and festive floats along the parade route, followed by the Rhododendron Show and Plant Sale and the Spring Fever Festival. Downtown Eureka.

Let Off Some Steam April 25-26 Celebrate Eureka’s rich history at the annual Dolbeer Steam Donkey Days at Fort Humboldt State Historic Park. This two-day

festival features free train rides and demonstrations centered on the development of the logging industry in Northern California. Pack a family picnic and enjoy the festivities. 3431 Fort Ave., Eureka; 707/445-6567.

May Day Way May 2 Head over to the Blue Ox Millworks and Historic Park for the May Day Living History and Artisans Faire. Watch blacksmiths, woodworkers, printers and weavers show off their talents while you enjoy live music, BBQ and microbrews. 1st & X Street, Eureka; 707/444-3437 or blueoxmill.com.

Music of America May 9 Join the Arkley Center for the Performing Arts in welcoming the Grammy-winning group America to Eureka. Get in the ’70s-era groove with such classics as “I Need You,” “Ventura Highway,” and “Horse With No Name.” Tickets are $50 for the 8 p.m. show. 412 G St., Eureka; 707/442-1956 or arkleycenter.com.

Shoe-In-Event May 17 The Eureka Waterfront Run and Walk, geared to both serious and novice runners and walkers, is a benefit for the Running Shoe Fund, helping children who need running shoes. This event begins at 10 a.m., rain or shine. 1450 Broadway, Eureka; 707/442-6325.

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Get out and

about and enjoy

the most festive

events our

region has to

offer

Amazing Race May 23-25 Enjoy the fantastic spectacle that is the 41st Annual Kinetic Grand Championship, featuring people- powered sculptures racing over land and sea. From Arcata Plaza to the finish line in Ferndale. Arcata Plaza, Eureka Waterfront and Main Street, Ferndale; 707/499-0643. — Caitlin Kelly

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finishing touch

Micki Dyson-FlatmoThe magnetism of artists stems from their ability to create extraordinary works from seemingly ordinary situations. And it is Micki Dyson-Flatmo’s distinct ability to do so that led to the creation of her oil painting, The Scarf. Dyson-Flatmo met the painting’s subject, a woman named Charity, while running errands in Eureka a few years ago. Her unusual style and natural beauty inspired a series of portraits, including this one. The work captures a moment that is warm, simple and lovely. “What I love about this piece is that the subject’s movement is so normal, almost unconscious,” explains Dyson-Flatmo. “But I saw a beauty in her movement that I wanted to share with the audience.” A Eureka resident for more than 30 years, Dyson-Flatmo is continually inspired by the area’s striking landscapes and unique residents. Her work (and yes, art fans, she is the wife of Duane Flatmo) is available for viewing online at mickiflatmo.com. — Caitlin Kelly

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