Use this '50s custom-built house as your DIY inspiration. • Photos by Chad Bremerman

Take a classic ’50s custom-built house, add a terrific floor plan with 3,300 square feet of living space, stir in creative owners unafraid of taking design risks, and you have the perfect recipe for do-it-yourself decorating at its best.

We asked three local interior designers how any homeowner can get the look of the local midcentury gem featured on these pages.

DIY experts, the owners of this home bought it five years ago with a “What can we make of it” approach. They painted all of the rooms themselves. Their décor — a mix of antiques, estate sale finds, flea market discoveries, family hand-me-downs and furniture store splurges — combines for sophisticated results. Some pieces of furniture were diamonds in the rough, such as an old chair with great structure and lousy upholstery. A simple recover in designer fabric nets a fabulous new chair at a fraction of the cost.

How can you use these tips in your own house? Using this home as inspiration, Yakima magazine asked our panel of experts for some DIY advice. Here’s what they had to say.

Marissa Tegen, design specialist for Standard Paint, said that paint — of course — can make all the difference.

“Look through magazines to find paint colors that jump out at you,” she said. Emotions can play an important role in picking paint, and Tegen advises choosing a color that makes you happy or at ease. Don’t jump on the exciting or edgy bandwagon too quickly; some colors that seem fun but out of your comfort zone may end up irritating you later. If you see a color you like at a business or at a friend’s house, don’t hesitate to ask what it is. Our feature home uses “Marie Yellow” in its living room. A friend of the owners suggested the paint formula, insisting that “everyone looked better” in a room painted this color.

Tegen added that gray is becoming the new neutral beige, and darker or even metallic paint is becoming popular for ceilings as well as high gloss for moldings.

Nancy Melcher calls herself a “re-designer.” She said she often finds herself inadvertently teaching clients about DIY decorating while helping them with their interior décor. She encourages DIY decorators to ask themselves: “What’s my goal? What mood do I want to create? How do I want my home to reflect my interests?” Simplifying and editing objects and furniture in a room can be a first step.

A master at finding great furniture bargains, Melcher said, “If you’re willing to hunt, you can find a good piece of furniture in the most unusual places. I once bought a great book shelf, used for display in a clothing store, because I talked the owner into it!”

She feels “collections” reflect the homeowner’s interests, but should be meaningful and small. Family photos can personalize any décor, but using the same color frame and grouping black and white or color photos together creates more impact. “Not so long ago I helped redesign a hallway with a wall of photos. Unfortunately the frames were all different colors, so I spray-painted all of them black and arranged them on a caramel colored wall … they literally popped,” she said.

Judy Lyon, design partner for The Village Shoppe, gives this advice to DIY decorators: “We often find that the addition of one very special item of furniture can be the ‘spark’ that brings a room to life,” she said. “Although it may be a splurge, a well-chosen piece will help define a design style, and always reflects the homeowner’s unique taste and personality.”

If you’re bent on DIY decorating, arm yourself with plenty of home and garden magazines for ideas on what you want to achieve, be brutal about what stays and what goes, pick colors that make you happy, don’t be afraid to mix and match, think about original artwork (Yakima has so many wonderful local artists) and, most importantly, have fun. Often the easiest and least expensive solution turns into the best DIY design choice.

January and February are months of restlessness for Yakima’s Zone 5 gardeners. While the winter wonder of bark and berries, conifers and cones and frosted foliage is appreciated, I find myself yearning for something fresh and alive. Even the dried arrangements that were stunning centerpieces in my home in November have lately lost their luster. The good news is that gardeners in cold climates like ours can gain an early glimpse of spring thanks to the age-old process of “forcing.”

Forcing tricks barren branches into thinking it’s spring, so they’ll unravel silk blossoms and verdant green leaves when taken indoors. Spring-blooming trees and shrubs form their flower buds during fall, and after at least eight weeks of temperatures below 40 degrees, their branches are capable of blooming if you can provide them with the perfect environment. Here are some simple steps to follow:

Using sharp pruners, make an angled cut on pencil-thin branches with enlarged flower buds (which tend to be rounder and larger than leaf buds.) Do this on a sunny afternoon or when temperatures are above freezing. Bring the cut branches indoors and strip the buds, twigs and leaves from lower sections of the stem that would eventually be underwater when placed in a vase. Make a slit or two in the bottom of the stem in a star or cross pattern before putting stems into a bucket of water (or, if possible, submerge the entire stem in the bathtub overnight). This begins to break the branch and bud’s dormancy. Then move the branches to a cool area (60 degrees) in indirect light. Warmer temperatures and brighter light can cause buds to develop too rapidly and prevent them from opening properly.

Change the water every two to three days to keep it fresh. The low humidity in Yakima homes may cause the buds to fall off, so try to keep the branches misted (and, if you can manage it, wrapped in wet newspaper). Depending on the type of branch and when you cut, you should see buds swell and begin to open within one to six weeks.

At this point, move the stems to a brighter location and use them in arrangements. Cool temperatures around 65 degrees will prolong the blooming period.

A word of caution before you dash out the door, pruners in hand: There have been memorable years when I was a bit overzealous in my harvest of dormant branches. While they were thrilling in my indoor arrangements, when May arrived the donor plant looked like the victim of a very bad haircut that took a whole season to grow out. Be prudent when pruning, always maintaining an attractive shape for your blooming shrubs.

Remember too that when it comes to fruit trees, the blooms you remove in February were destined to be the summer or autumn harvest. Avoid those awkward conversations like I’ve had with my husband, when he wonders why there are so few apricots and plums. Where did they all go?

For cutting as early as mid-January, try forsythia, witch hazel, poplar and willow. These take 2-3 weeks to force and are easy. In February, add maple, alder, apple, crab apple, quince, cherry, apricot and pear to that list. In March, try hawthorn, honeysuckle, mock orange, lilac, spirea, magnolia and dogwood. These March varieties are a bit more difficult and may need a month or more to bloom, so be patient while you await your reward: the almost magical emergence of fresh flowers and foliage in the harsh days of midwinter.

Styling by Pam Edwards • Photography by Jennifer Dagdagan

Although not everyone needs to be fussed over, there are those of us who admittedly need special attention. When Stephen and I travel, it can be stressful — and we have horror stories to prove it. Thank goodness for the GPS my in-laws gave us, because we now can blame something else for our stupidity. We are very map-challenged and get all turned around and flustered. Since I’m the better driver and he’s an ace navigator, I do a bit of driving while he strains his eyes finding the spot on the map, reads signs and verbally maneuvers me through the streets.

Thankfully, we’ve had the mostly good fortune to be treated well: the decent bed, the home-cooked meal and the gentle guidance from our pals about where to go and what to do when they are otherwise occupied. It is a magical thing when one feels so pampered that when you return home you are truly feeling rested. God bless the host who understands that simple luxuries, good planning and tasty snacks go a long way toward making the traveler feel comfortable and welcome. Here are my own tips and tricks for how to pamper your next houseguest.

After helping guests unpack and whetting their appetites with some tasty snacks from local specialty shops, it’s time for a visit to catch up. I also keep sparkling water and fresh fruit on hand for refreshments while we chat.

Sweet yet spicy pecans set out in an attractive silver bowl are a terrific snack that can lift the weary traveler’s spirits. I would make these myself but the chef who creates this delicacy told me the recipe — and after the thorough explanation I simply asked, “How much?”

I like to splurge on great sheets. They don’t always match the pillowcases, but the high thread count makes up for all that. Memory foam on top of the mattress is just about the greatest invention I’ve ever experienced, and it feels luxurious! We have a good mattress, but once we added the foam it guaranteed a few more stars to our visitors’ ratings.

Because I love saturated, drenched colors, I keep a pretty lively palette in the house and the guest bedroom, but the key is to keep it gender-neutral. It doesn’t say male or female, it just reads as artistic. (At least we hope so.) One friend has a little cry whenever she has to return home because the peaked ceiling of our guest room brings on sweet nostalgic memories of her childhood bedroom. This guest appreciates the smallest gesture so much we finally just named the room after her.

Comfy seating is something I actually obsess about. It might be an age thing, but once one gets a taste of a decent place to plant yourself and put your feet up, it’s hard to go back to anything less cushy. This snug armchair and stool actually don’t match, but both are so well made and substantial that they suit everyone just fine.

We enjoy our friends with children but eventually it’s time for adult talk. We’ve found that kids really appreciate movies on hand and Netflix. I keep headphones handy because our house is on the small side, and the deafening noise of buildings blowing up or screaming horror films can really rattle my nerves. There is a basket of card games, concession-type snacks and assorted sodas. I love spoiling the kids almost more than the adults because the hugs of appreciation are worth their weight in gold. Basically it’s my goal to make sure everyone is comfortable — even the visiting pet.

Netflix, candy and the remote wait for visitors' children.

Breakfast comes in many forms at our house, but one of the easiest is the “hearty breakfast.” I get almost everything out and put it on the table before the guests come downstairs. Coffee, juice, different types of bread and jams or jellies from our garden and a bowl of scrambled eggs from our chickens. A decent brand of oatmeal with all the fixings sets everyone up for a great day. In better weather we all migrate outside, mugs of steaming coffee in our hands and the warmest feelings of being with our best friends.

It's breakfast time!

Most of our friends are big readers, and we spend a lot of time discussing books and even reading aloud with one pair of friends. We have quite a collection of books and recently discovered we had room for even more in the second bathroom cupboard. I try to keep a few current magazines around, but the book reviews in the New York Times are a must.

We aren’t always perfect with our hosting and have made a few mistakes along the way. I am notorious for forgetting that one of the daughters-in-law hates onions and garlic. The chickens have been chased by every dog that ever visited, accompanied by my shrill screams.

But as they say, practice makes perfect, and I think we have it just about nailed. Safe — and pampered — travels to you!

Milford’s family and dining rooms are decked out for the holidays with her “rustic romantic” style. Photos by Andy Sawyer and Chad Bremerman

When Jane Milford first stepped through the door of a charming 1914 French cottage located on a quiet midtown Yakima street, she knew instantly that “God had answered every prayer I’d had for such a house.”

Milford, who owned a home décor store called Found Collections in Seattle, moved to Yakima four years ago. She now creates the displays in Yakima’s Garden Dance/raindance. When Milford moved here, she wanted to find an older home so that she could decorate it with the antiques, vintage furniture and curiosities she had collected over the years.

The cottage’s first owner, Phillip Smith, had traveled through France with his family before the start of World War I. When they returned to Yakima, Smith hired a prominent Yakima architect, William Henry Harrison Weatherwax, to design and build a house that would simulate what Smith had seen in Normandy. Over the years, the house has often been called the Weatherwax Cottage.

Milford bought the cottage from Carol Carroll, who had lived in it for more than a decade. Milford felt fortunate, because Carroll had remodeled the interior only a few years before, brightening the walls and ceiling with white and butter yellow paint, adding a bath, installing French doors to the backyard and enlarging the kitchen. All Milford had to do was give the home her signature “rustic romantic decor.”

Christmas is a special time for Milford and her two daughters: Megan, a college student, and Augusta, who is in high school. Not one who enjoys over-the-top wreaths and light displays, Milford uses a subtle yet elegant approach to decorating her house for the holidays.

The floor-to-ceiling river rock fireplace makes a dramatic counterpoint to the creamy white furnishings, and gauzy window dressings are a neutral backdrop for the small Fraser fir, its base wrapped in burlap.
Her tree decorations are either vintage or handmade. Like her mother, Milford has a degree in clothing textiles from Washington State University.

“My mother taught me how to sew when I was young, and we always made Christmas ornaments,” she said. “I’ve passed that on to my girls.”

The tree features twinkle lights and handmade paper ornaments constructed from doilies, photos and interesting scraps of various materials. The chenille-cuffed felt Christmas stockings on the mantel are her girls’ creations as well. Milford loves using brown paper and colorful rickrack for her packages, which results in a whimsical elegance that could rival the most expensive wrapping.

Although the cottage has French touches like the exquisite arts and crafts light fixtures in the living room, Milford also brings a bit of her German heritage out every Christmas Eve in the form of an old German music box. It’s a family tradition that presents can’t be opened until the family hears the music box play Silent Night.

Milford likes to decorate her cheery red and white kitchen with paper whites, antique tin boxes, old cookbooks and the occasional vintage Santa or tiny Christmas tree. Adjacent to the kitchen is a cozy kitchen nook that features a handsome mural depicting a French family enjoying after-dinner entertainment.

The oil painting is thought to have been created by Smith. The charming scene remains untouched, even after many different families have occupied the house over the past 97 years.

For Christmas dinner, Milford sets an ethereal table on the far wall of the living room near a bank of windows. Using a white palette, she arranges candlesticks, vintage wooden santos, snow berries, cordial cup luminaries and tiny Christmas trees and snow maidens under glass domes to set a heavenly mood.

Every object d’art or curiosity Milford displays holds special meaning. From her Phillippine santos to her French fabric, cast iron planters to mismatched antique chairs, or old dress forms to a jewelry collection, Milford has a passion for the old and precious.

And she makes staging of these objects look like child’s play. Anyone who has tried this art form will tell you that there’s a world of difference between “time-worn chic” and just plain “time-worn.”

Milford has advice for the novice decorator: start with a centerpiece and work outward. But don’t despair if your attempt looks, ahem, like an attempt.  Passion and a lot of practice make perfect, and in Milford’s case, très magnifique!

Get the Look: Try these easy DIY projects

Jane Milford’s house didn’t become a home overnight. It has taken many years of collecting, crafting and decorating to achieve her eclectic style. We wanted to try our hand at Jane’s look, so we started with a few DIY projects.

Chalkboard paint transforms an old window into a gorgeous sign.

Window Frame Chalkboard
We’ve made this vintage window frame decorative and functional simply by brushing on a couple of coats of chalkboard paint, which is available at craft stores. Two eye screws and a few feet of rope created a personalized display board. To keep with Jane’s rustic look, we’ve left the frame in its natural state. It looks quite charming placed on a kitchen wall displaying the night’s menu.

Materials:
1 vintage window frame
1 foam brush
1 small can rust-oleum chalkboard paint

Instructions:
Prep the surface by thoroughly cleaning the glass.  Smoothly paint on one coat of chalkboard paint.  Let dry for 2-3 hours.  Paint another smooth coat of paint.  Let dry for 24 hours before drawing on the board.

It's almost done!

Burlap Napkin Rings
We fell in love with Jane’s decorative use of burlap and stenciling. To get her look, we designed these napkin rings to give our dining table a touch of texture and character. You might be surprised to learn that this project gets started with a cardboard toilet paper tube. Using a hot glue gun, add a few strips of burlap, some patterned ribbon and an embellished fabric button — and there you have it — personalized napkin rings for your guests.

Materials:
scissors
glue gun
1 cardboard toilet paper roll (makes 2 napkin rings)
12″x12″ piece of burlap
1 yard of ribbon (about 1/4 inch thick – your color choice)
2 buttons
2 – 2″x2″ fabric squares (to cover buttons)
letter stamps

Instructions:
Cut cardboard toilet paper roll in half.  Cut two pieces of burlap to wrap around rolls (approx. 2″ x 6″).  Glue onto roll.  Cut six strips of burlap into 1/2″ x 6″ strips.  Fold each strip into a bow and then glue in the center.  Using three bows, glue on top of one another to create a flower-like shape.  Glue flower onto roll.  Next, cut six strips of ribbon, each 6 inches long.  Fold each strip into a bow and then glue in the center.  Again, using three bows, glue on top of one another to create a flower-like shape.  Glue the ribbon flower on top of the burlap flower. Cover button with fabric by snipping the edges and then gluing them around the button.  Stamp letter on button and then glue button to the napkin ring.  Fold napkin and then place the napkin ring over it.

Thrift store wine glasses turn into tea light holders with a vintage look.

Decoupaged Wine Glasses
Using old sheets of music and vintage book pages, Jane adds character and whimsy to everyday items — like glassware and storage boxes. This is done using a process called decoupage. It’s actually quite simple, too — if you can cut and paste, you can decoupage. We quickly transformed these thrift store wine glasses into decorative votive holders using pages from an old book and remnants of ribbon. We love their timeworn elegance and DIY flair.

Materials:
Mod Podge
foam brush
old book
3 wine glasses
3′ ribbon
3 tealight candles

Instructions:
Tear pieces of book into strips and squares.  One piece at a time and using the foam brush, place glue on the back of the strip, place strip on the wineglass, smooth out, brush more glue on top of the strip (glue will appear milky, but dries transparent).  Repeat to cover the entire wineglass.  Let dry 24 hours.  Tie bottom of wineglass with ribbon.  Light candle.

An arrangement of laurel, hydrangea, ivy, artemisia, burning bush, the dried seed heads of poppy and iris fill a blue and white container in Barany’s living room. Photos by Chad Bremerman

Two years ago, my husband and I hosted friends from Connecticut during a very cold and rainy week in late October. Roseanne, an avid gardener, suggested that we fill the house with arrangements for a special dinner party that we were planning. I lamented that I had absolutely nothing to contribute, because crisp nights had brought the last late bloomers to their knees.

A moment later, confident and with clippers in hand, Roseanne headed out to the garden. “Who says there’s nothing to put in a vase today?” she challenged. As I followed her through my own garden — one I thought I knew intimately — Rosanne directed me to “cut a little of this and a few pieces of that.”

What she created from twigs, conifers, broad leaf evergreens, berries, pods and even a few vegetables was extraordinary.

Then at February’s Northwest Flower and Garden Show in Seattle, I wandered into Debra Prinzing’s seminar, The Winter Bouquet: Sustainable Floral Design Ideas from Winter’s Bounty. Debra’s masterpieces were created on the spot from materials either gleaned from her late-winter garden or from wild places providing “weeds.”

I didn’t need any more proof that even in winter there is beauty bold enough to stun in a centerpiece. All you need to do is recognize that your “desolate” backyard may have more to offer than previously met the eye, and remember that flowers are not always necessary in arrangements.

Fortified by this fresh insight, I invited my garden club, The Floribundas, to go flower shopping in our gardens in the dreary days of late February. The dogwood and quince we gathered were mere twigs, but the promise held in their swelling buds was as appreciated as their flowers would be later. Without the distraction of blossoms and petals, we saw that even bark and moss can be wondrous.

During our latest adventure, the Floribundas created winter arrangements for our homes, using only elements that could be found in our own waning gardens. We showcased the results at a Floribunda dinner party that afternoon.

To silence those who claim they are gardenless because they possess ‘black thumbs’ that kill everything, I gathered my materials from the wild gardens nature plants at roadsides within five miles of my city home.

If you are intrigued by these photos, just go out into the garden you have at this moment, or take a short ride in the car, and find all you’ll ever need to create arrangements that are elegant enough for your own party.

Here are some elements of floral design that Debra suggests. Consider your vase or container as a significant design element and use the most striking one you can find.

DIVA FLOWER: These blooms are the leading elements of the arrangement. During winter, when flowers are absent, the “divas” tend to be mostly evergreens or the biscuit-hued heads of dried grasses, flowering weeds or even corn tassels.

LINES/VERTICAL: Stems of willow, red twig dogwood or cattails are favorites. These elements break up the texture of the diva flowers and add drama and vertical interest.

FILLER: Debra encourages you to look at these elements as “embroidery” — the arrangement’s lacy and ruffled textures. Use them to fill the gaps and spaces in the arrangement, knitting all the elements together. Seedpods, shorter filigreed grasses or sagebrush are some of the endless possibilities. Perhaps you have access to the dramatic foliage of conifers or broadleaf evergreens, such as laurel and rhododendron.

SPILLERS/COLLARS: Elements such as grape, hop or ivy vines drape and cascade over the rim of the container. Collar elements are like a ruff or skirt that circles the vase’s opening and gives the arrangement a tailored and finished look.

While hunting for beauty at the roadside, be considerate. There is a difference between a weed and an element that is part of a private landscape. When in doubt, ask permission before you cut. In public natural areas like city, county and state parks, the Greenway, or the Cowiche Canyon, it is usually illegal to remove any plant material, no matter how weedy or abundant it looks to you.

Also, consider the possibility that you may haul home a noxious weed full of seeds looking for a new home. (Keep in mind you can compost the remains if you use a thermometer and are sure that your pile heats to between 140-160 degrees.) If in doubt, dispose of these weeds in plastic bags and put them in with your garbage, rather than adding them to the yard waste that is picked up for composting. Burning them in your fireplace is another safe disposal option.

I never knew what was missing from my gardening life until a group of friends began The Floribundas last year and invited me to join. Sharing a passion for plants and an attitude that “it’s not work, it’s gardening,” we look forward to meeting every other week.

When we’re not creating arrangements, we offer each other advice in designing new borders, share extra plants and tour gardens, forever on a quest to find the elusive perfect perennial. And who else besides Becky Lang-Boyd, Nancy Gabriel, Sandi Gibson, Barb Smith Gilbert, Lis Pedemonte, Meg Pehlke, Purna Rankin, Terri Schaake and Carol Woolcock would honor me on my 60th birthday with the gift I really wanted: a load of composted manure, delivered right to my door.

The Emerald of Siam offers "no cover" evening music; Stevie and Marylou Show perform. Photos by Michelle Ellis

Richland is surprising.
One of the three communities in the nearby Tri-Cities, Richland has its own small-town, “retro” vibe, with a good bit of architecture recalling the ‘50s and ‘60s. And since it’s just over an hour away, Richland makes for a quick — and fun — getaway.

If you want to make the trip this winter, here are a few shops and restaurants worth checking into. All of them are located in strip malls, but these aren’t your run of the mill retail centers; they’re throwbacks to different time. With outdoor signs that seem ripped from an episode of The Jetsons and no big-box stores in sight, both the Uptown Shopping Center and The Parkway have interesting shops and restaurants tucked into every nook.

A customer enjoys the newspaper and a Persian roll.

The Spudnut Shop
If you manage to make it to Richland by mid-morning, pop into The Spudnut Shop in the Uptown Shopping Center for a cup of coffee and a customer favorite, the Persian roll. The Persian is Spudnut’s version of a cinnamon roll, made with potato flour. Spudnut shops around the country have been famous for their potato doughnuts since the 1940s. The Spudnut also has lunch and early dinner options, like sandwiches, soups and chili.

Richland’s location opened in 1948, and it’s found its share of the media spotlight, having been featured on the Food Network and the Travel Channel.

Many of the customers are regulars, chiming in with servers to tell the history of the shop while they get their coffee refills. The interior is no frills — in fact, its laminate tables and beige cups are reminiscent of the “Hol’N-One Donuts” in the Yakima Mall from years past. And that’s why we like it.

The Spudnut Shop
228 Williams Blvd. • Uptown Shopping Center
509-943-3000
spudnutinfo.com

The greeting cards are a customer favorite at the Octopus' Garden.

The Octopus’ Garden

The Octopus’ Garden is aptly named. The gift store is jam-packed with interesting oddball items and tchotchkes, its aisles snaking through merchandise like the eight-armed cephalopod it’s named after (although reportedly it is actually named after the Beatles song). Customers love to get lost in its shelves, perusing eccentricities and taking in the aroma of incense.

Stocking everything from comic book T-shirts and imported clothing to retro lunch pails and a wall of greeting cards (staffer Steven Andrews says the greeting cards are customer favorites), the Octopus’ Garden is a welcome retreat — even if you don’t need that Superman T-shirt.

Octopus’ Garden
1327 George Washington Way • Uptown Shopping Center
509-946-0077

Larb Gai, sunshine rolls, and Thai iced tea.

The Emerald of Siam
The Emerald of Siam boasts authentic Thai cuisine. Many locals rave about the restaurant, which features curries, seafood, spring rolls and vegetarian dishes on its menu. The Emerald of Siam offers interesting specials, too, like Thai Spaghetti, made with ground beef, basil and Thai spices.
Live music lightens up the place fairly frequently, and it’s not unusual to walk into a special event, too, such as the restaurant’s recent Zombie Prom.

The Emerald of Siam
Uptown Shopping Center
1314 Jadwin Ave.
509-946-9328
emeraldofsiam.com

wild goose has a large assortment of one of kind jewelry pieces

Wild Goose Design
For those who love baubles for home, don’t miss Wild Goose Design, a home décor shop that specializes in a French Country aesthetic. Wild Goose Design has been in business for nine years and is owned by Bonnie Greiner, an artist who with her husband and 12 other local artists makes or reworks a majority of the store’s merchandise.

Located in The Parkway, Wild Goose sells children’s items, jewelry, furniture and other sparkly trinkets that you probably won’t find in a big box retail store. It also features some harder-to-find items, including antiques and trumeaux, which are mirrors with carvings or paintings above them.
There is quite a bit of inventory in this little shop. Overheard by one customer, “You have to go through it, and then you have to go through it again.”
Wild Goose Design
610 The Parkway
509-943-3006

Coconut and raspberry cupcakes, two of the variety of flavors that are offered daily.

Frost Me Sweet
Before you head home, stop by Frost Me Sweet, a new bakery and bistro that’s also located in The Parkway. Frost Me Sweet opened last year, and owner Megan Savely says the hot spot is known best for its cupcakes, made with organic and local ingredients — and even packaged in eco-friendly materials.
Items are baked daily, with exotic-sounding flavors changing frequently.

Six flavors, however, are stocked every day. “If we didn’t have them, people would freak out,” said Savely. What flavors make customers go crazy? The Elvis, made with chocolate, peanut butter and banana (with a little of the King’s sparkle), peanut butter chocolate, red velvet, salted caramel, coconut cream and maple bacon. We are intrigued by the Nutella cupcake too.
The bistro side of things serves up lunch and dinner entrees (along with local wines and microbrews), including paninis and soups made with vegetables from the local farmer’s market when in season. Sounds like a delicious way to end a daytrip.

Frost Me Sweet Bakery & Bistro
710 The Parkway
509-420-4704
frostmesweet.com

GALLERY

By Carol Barany/WSU Master Gardeners

Relax! Impeccable neatness in the autumn yard, without a fallen leaf in sight and with all the natural refuse cut back, collected and bagged, is no longer the mark of a fine gardener. When I see a black plastic bag of leaves on the curb, I want to bring it home, since leaves are one of the most extraordinary gifts nature gives us. Soil needs replenishing each year with organic matter, and leaves are the perfect food, since they decompose into humus. Humus contains both nutrients and fiber that adds structure to soil.

But that doesn’t mean that leaves should be left where they fall, covering the yard through winter. In fact, leaves left in this way can become a smothering mulch instead of a nourishing fertilizer. Clear your driveways and paths, then take a look at the following tips for how best to use the leaves nature gives us.

• Research has found that turf grass benefits from leaves chopped by a mulching mower and then left on the lawn instead of being raked off. Running my 10-year old mulching mower three times each week, I am able to mulch ALL the leaves that fall on my lawn from two 75-foot-tall maples with trunks five feet in diameter — with no raking or blisters. The shreds are so small that they seem to disappear immediately.

• It was once practice to cut down most perennials in autumn, but now gardeners recognize that winter interest is provided by more than evergreens and conifers. In addition to their ornamental qualities, certain perennials in the winter landscape are important resources for birds and butterflies. Many species of butterflies lay eggs on the leaves of perennials for overwintering, and if we cut down and compost these plants, we may be composting next seasons’s butterflies, too. Birds visit our feeders, but also come to our gardens to eat the seeds from perennials such as Echinacea, Heliopsis and Rudbeckia, and use perennials as cover and resting grounds.

• For those perennials that don’t contribute much to the winter garden, mulch ’em. After the first killing frost, I chop the tall ones down with hedge clippers, leave the debris in place, then run my mulching mower over the remains. Setting the mower deck as high as possible, I can shred without damaging any drip irrigation lines. Humus is my garden’s gold.

If you must rake and bag your leaves, check for leaf pick-up times in your neighborhood.

If you’re a Yakima resident, use the biodegradable bags that the City Refuse Division on Fruitvale Boulevard provides for free — that ensures those leaves will be taken to the Yard Waste Recycling Center in Terrace Heights. If you use biodegradable bags that you find elsewhere, or black plastic bags, these leaves will be picked up, but will be taken to the landfill instead.

Karen and Jim Gilbert raised the ceilings on their new kitchen, installed skylights, and replaced dark cabinets with white cabinets, brightening a formally dark room. (by Sara Gettys/Yakima Herald-Republic)

By Melissa S. Labberton

How do you transform a 1970s house, complete with a rabbit warren of dark paneled rooms, in order to suit a 21^st century lifestyle? That was the question that confronted Karen and Jim Gilbert in 2008 when their Realtor showed them just that in Terrace Heights. The home, while dated, was close to the Yakima Country Club, where Jim works as the golf pro.

“I didn’t even want to see the house,” Karen recalled. However, when she and Jim stepped in the front door of the 2,600-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bathroom throwback, they instantly envisioned its potential. Karen described the home as “a whole world of dark paneling and a very white fireplace.” The balcony was a selling point, with its stunning view of the mountains. The home also boasted a great location, a small backyard with a hillside of easy-care landscaping and a two-car garage tucked below the one-level living area.

The pluses convinced the Gilberts to take the remodeling plunge, and the couple bought the house.

The Gilberts hired contractor Tim Eglin for the project because of his almost 30 years of experience — and they felt that he really listened to their ideas. Eglin said he doesn’t always encourage clients to embark on such major remodels.

“If you’re putting too much money into the house, you’d like to think the people will get the most out of their money when they go to sell it,” he said. But he also could see the potential in this project, and he agreed that the remodel was very doable.

It took six months to renovate the entire house, with the bulk of the work focusing on the living room, kitchen and dining area. Along with removing the dark cabinets and paneling and taking walls down to the studs, Eglin opened up the low kitchen and dining room ceilings, vaulting them with a rustic beam and thick posts to separate the area. Karen wanted the space to have a light and airy feel, so two skylights were cut into the kitchen’s ceiling. The house also had two walls of opaque yellow glass in the living room, similar to the kind one may have seen in a ’70s era doctor’s office. Replacing these with energy-efficient clear glass created a 180-degree view.

“My husband and I spend a lot of time in Sun Valley,” Karen said. “I took some of my decorating ideas from large homes there and brought them into the ‘real’ world.” The gorgeous red oak flooring, lovely area rugs and two gas fireplaces faced in rustic Eldorado Stone reflect the style of a weekend resort home.

The raised panel kitchen cabinets, painted sweet cream with chocolate brown accents, are reminiscent of a cozy English kitchen. The idea for the cabinets came from a picture Karen saw in a decorating magazine and was part of the portfolio of ideas she collected before the remodel.

From the large kitchen and the dining room to the cocktail-worthy tiled balcony and comfortable living room, it’s obvious that Jim and Karen love to entertain. After the remodel was finished, Karen wanted a place where her guests could eat, drink and make merry. The new kitchen’s oversized oak-topped island fits the bill perfectly.

“I had 14 gals here last Friday night and no one moved from the island,” she said with a giggle.

Marissa Teggen, a decorator with Standard Paint in Yakima, advised the Gilberts on tile, paint colors and window coverings, which helped them transform the master suite and two bathrooms from antiquated to glam. Eglin’s design sense made it possible to remove and reposition walls in the master bedroom, creating a large walk-in closet with floor to ceiling mirror, and a full-size shower and double vanities in the couple’s large bathroom. The bathroom’s luxurious, freestanding, footed tub was Karen’s idea, because she loves a hot bath during Yakima’s chilly winters.

Three years have passed since the Gilberts remodeled their ’70s house, and they still love it. About the only project they have left is updating the small patio off the kitchen. They’ve already pulled up the green outdoor carpeting, but more work is being planned. When it comes to the future, Karen would love to organize a few Bocce ball tournaments on the strip of grass that makes up the backyard. And with retirement looming large for Jim, the party possibilities are endless. One thing is for sure — the Gilberts have created the perfect home to share with family and friends.

An inspired container contains three design elements: a thriller, a filler and a spiller. Photo by Gordon King

By Carol Barany

Every home, apartment, restaurant and boutique should have at least one container garden. Container gardens are living art, adding personality and panache to any setting, most notably on our downtown Yakima streets.

But if you don’t know where to start with your own, here are some easy tips.

Start with a container that has adequate drainage and fill it with a potting mix that retains moisture, but provides drainage as well. Small pots dry out faster than large ones. Plants depend on a steady, reliable source of water and nutrition throughout the growing season, so during our hot Yakima summers, you may have to water daily — at least. Supply your favorite fertilizer at half strength every two or three weeks to support continuous growth. Remove spent flowerheads and unsightly foliage at least weekly. Maintenance is everything.

An inspired container contains three design elements: a thriller, a filler and a spiller. The thriller is the centerpiece plant, something big and bold that captures attention. Fillers are flowers or foliage that complement but do not compete with the star. Mounding and billowing at the base of the thriller, fillers add substance and texture, weaving the composition together. Spillers tumble out of the pot — hopefully in an exuberant cascade.

It’s OK to create a quick garden by cramming plants into your container for instant impact, rather than skimping on plant material and waiting for it to grow in. Avoid combining too many colors in the same pot, and for maximum pop and punch, use two to four plants of the same variety. The actual container is an important design element, so pick one that accentuates the plants or the surroundings. Buy the largest, most spectacular pot you can afford and remember that one superb container is more effective than a dozen that are nondescript.

A planter at the intersection of Yakima Avenue and Second Street in downtown Yakima. Photo by Gordon King

Plant recommendations for the Yakima area:

Thrillers: Purple Fountain Grass is a good substitute for the Calamagrostis acutiflora that has been used in the downtown planters. Also try phormiums, dracaenas, Persian shield or any of the ornamental grasses that provide texture and architectural interest.

Fillers: Try coleus bred for sun tolerance, lantana, geranium, plectranthus, impatiens, hybrid heuchera, hebe, begonia, calibrachoa, diascia, abutilon, succulents and browalia.

Spillers: Hybrid petunias are great, as well as lysimachia nummularia (Creeping Jenny), alternanthera, helichrysum petiolare (licorice plant) and angelonia.

A composition for the shade might include shade-loving coleus, fern, cordyline, fuchsia, lobelia, hosta or ivy.

Container Plants: Common and Scientific Names:

Purple Fountain Grass = Pennisetum setaceum “Rubrum”

Persian shield = Strobilanthes dyerianus

Phormium = Phormium tenax

Dracaena  = Dracaena marginata

Cordyline = Cordyline australis

Coleus = Solenostemon scutellariodes

Lantana = Lantana camara

Geranium = Pelargonium

Plectranthus = Plectranthus ciliatus

Hebe = Hebe speciosa

Ivy = Hedera helix

Photo by Chad Bremmerman

By Melissa S. Labberton

Photos by Chad Bremmerman

Marrying her passion for gardening and collecting, third-grade teacher Claudia Tabayoyon has transformed her small backyard into a delightful retreat from her busy life. Her whimsical cottage garden was featured in the Yakima Area Arboretum’s annual tour of gardens this year — and for good reason.
“One thing that is fun about her garden is that you can take your time looking at
everything,” said Colleen Adams-Schuppe, co-executive director of the arboretum. “We always look for a small garden, because it appeals to a lot of people.”
Fifteen years ago, Tabayoyon moved to the old five-bedroom farmhouse that sits
on a block with smaller, older homes off a busy Yakima thoroughfare.
“The home’s garden was nothing but weeds when we moved in,” she said. “All of the
bricks were here, but I relocated them.” A contorted willow, which over the years has grown to majestic proportions, now makes a magnificent centerpiece for the fanciful garden.
“We really didn’t have a plan, but piece by piece it came together.”
Although small, Tabayoyon’s garden offers surprises at every turn. She recently turned her ho-hum single-car garage into a sparkling white, red-trimmed potting shed adorned with black shutters and window boxes dripping with flowers.
A talented gardener, she enjoys cultivating different varieties of bonsai trees. In the spring and summer, her collection ranges from the traditional green mound juniper to a lilac plant, which even in miniature actually blooms. In the fall, she tucks the small trees into the potting shed to weather Yakima’s winter.

Tabayoyon’s garden offers surprises at every turn.

Tabayoyon can transform the most common household castoff into a prized piece of garden art, like the antique 1930s stove that sits proudly in her driveway or the bentwood chair that’s become a flowerpot. She says that much of her creative inspiration is from magazines such as Country Living and Country Sampler. What some people would describe as fodder for the landfill, Tabayoyon considers a treasure to which she can give new life by adding to her backyard retreat.
She also admits to a penchant for collecting garden art. Whether it’s bunnies, ceramic suns, roosters, turtles, birdhouses, teapots — even flying pigs — each of these collections have a special meaning for Tabayoyon. Her roosters, she explains, are signs of welcome in Germany.
The fun of her garden is in the exploring: every nook and cranny includes thoughtfully placed collections.
The sound of a flagstone waterfall that spills into a koi pond adds to the garden’s ambiance. She built the pond 14 years ago, and Tabayoyon’s koi have doubled in size about every two years. A wooden pergola near the back door makes a beautiful summer show of trumpet vine, wine grapes and clematis, and the koi love to feast on the trumpet vine petals when they fall into the pond.
As avid gardeners will tell you, keeping up with even the tiniest plot of land takes time and a great deal of commitment. With Yakima’s unexpected amount of rain and cold this spring, many gardeners have waited to get out and start their annual cleaning and bed preparation. But Tabayoyon has learned over the years that her garden will grow despite the wind, rain or hail. She says she spends at least one hour every day, and approximately eight hours each weekend, tending to her garden. Her passion has led her to create a magical sanctuary, filled with things she loves.