The Home Front

By JUDY STARK, Times Homes Editor

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 20, 2000

In brief

Hooked on decorating

Decorate the back of a plain wooden chair with its own floral garland. It's a great way to make a group of mismatched chairs work together. Use clear mini-hooks from 3M, held in place with Command self-stick adhesive, to grip the eyebrow-shaped garland. Tie on a place card with a ribbon. The hooks can be removed later with no trace of residue, gouges or nail holes. The hooks are available at home centers and hardware stores. More decorating tips for this party-heavy time of year: Hang a wreath on the door in the bride's colors or the school colors of the new graduate. For a bridal shower, collect pictures of each attendant with the bride, then frame them as a gift to the attendants. Use self-stick hooks to string electric lights along railings and fences. Got a pool? Float candles in it. A free booklet, "Command Adhesive Decorating Tips," is available from Montage, 2982 Cleveland Ave. N, Roseville, MN 55113, or call (800) 577-8778 ext. 70.

Neighborhoods on Parade

Put this on the summer calendar: Masterpiece Collection . . . Neighborhoods on Parade, June 16-July 2, a showcase of communities in Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, sponsored by the Pasco Builders Association. Typically parades of homes emphasize the models, but here more than 20 developments are expected to show off their landscaping, water-saving features, streetscapes, lifestyle and recreational amenities. We'll have details closer to opening day.

No more mess on the deck

Protect your deck from grease, spills and sparks with the Original Grill Pad, a flexible fiber-cement blanket that slips under a grill, smoker, deep fryer or chiminea. The pads have a slip-resistant textured finish and are designed to prevent long-term water entrapment underneath that can damage the deck surface. Hose the pads down to clean them. They come in 30-inch rounds weighing 7 pounds or rectangles 30 by 42 inches weighing 12 pounds. Prices range from $25 to $40. They're at home centers, hearth and patio shops, hardware stores and mass merchants.

Staying home

Something to think about: Most seniors lock in their housing choices before they reach the age of 60. That means the homes we buy as youthful empty nesters are the houses we're going to live in for a long time. Only 10 percent of seniors live in age-restricted communities, and just half of seniors with disabilities have the home modifications they need, according to a study by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard.

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.