Retro Richland

by Robin Salts Beckett on Nov 9, 2011

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.

Leave the Leaves

by Robin Salts Beckett on Sep 8, 2011

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.

Back-to-the-Future Remodel

by Melissa Labberton on Sep 8, 2011

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.

A Container Garden How-To

by Heather Caro on Jul 8, 2011

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.

A Whimsical Cottage Garden Escape

by Heather Caro on Jul 8, 2011

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.

Restoring a Classic Historic House

by Melissa Labberton on May 6, 2011

The entryway in the Olivares home.

By Melissa S. Labberton

Photography by Chad Bremmerman

The key to a successful home remodel is finding a builder who understands your vision and can work within your budget.  Four years ago, Barbara and Carlos Olivares decided to embark on a major remodel of their 1906 home, located on a charming, tree-lined street in the heart of Yakima’s historic district. But they knew they must first do their homework.

“We wanted a builder that knew something about old houses,” Barbara explained.  They sought out two of Yakima’s prominent and respected builders for advice, and both suggested Mike Fischer of M.D. Fischer Construction.

Fischer started building homes in the Yakima Valley with his father 40 years ago, and over time developed an eye for old houses. He’s cultivated a reputation for quality woodwork and attention to detail.  Fischer prefers to work alone, and the couple was pleased to learn he would be devoting all his time to their remodel.  Unfortunately, Fischer was so busy that they had to wait two years to start.

But the wait gave Barbara time to pore over hundreds of magazines, clipping out ideas and inspiration.  The rooms she envisioned could finally include her collection of antique furniture, stained glass and vintage light fixtures. She knew one day she would be able to incorporate these pieces into her home.

“My whole goal was to make the rooms look the same period of the house,” Barbara said.  “I didn’t want people to think it was old and new.”

As the project’s start loomed closer, Barbara and Carlos quickly realized they would have to vacate while demolition and construction took place. In the end, they were displaced for 18 months.

The kitchen is bright, airy - and used. The couple entertains frequently and Barbara enjoys cooking.

The couple initially wanted to add a much larger kitchen onto the house.  Fischer suggested building a second full bathroom where the old kitchen stood, then putting the new kitchen where an enclosed back porch had been built by prior owners.  That single decision avoided any additions that might take away from the original design.

The home’s old-fashioned parlor was transformed into a TV/family room without losing its period feel.  Fisher’s historically correct cabinetry and moldings match so perfectly with the original woodwork that it’s difficult to tell the old from new.

Anyone who has ever watched episodes of “This Old House” knows that embarking on a project of this size and scale can be fraught with problems and unexpected surprises. The Olivares house was no different.

Barbara explained that when Carlos bought the house, the basement had a dirt floor.  To make the basement livable, Fischer had to jack up the house and build a bearing wall, before pouring concrete for the floor. When demolition took the first floor walls down to the studs, they discovered evidence of several fires from the past that had been patched with cardboard.  And that was not all — also found were beehives and a leaky sewer line.

An old photo of the home's exterior, year unknown.

But not all was negative.  The rock-lined cold room originally used for storing canned goods in the basement had the perfect temperature for a wine cellar.  Fisher built a handsome wine rack on the south wall and — voila — the wine cellar became a reality.

Besides a new kitchen, sunroom and bathroom, the rest of the main floor, including the formal dining and living rooms, were refreshed with paint, wallpaper and refinished hardwood floors.  They hired local stained glass artist, Caroline Bowman, to replicate the pattern from the front door’s side lights for the new front door, to stunning effect.  Smaller antique stained glass pieces can be found in the kitchen, sunroom cabinetry and new bathroom.  Barbara also worked hard to find authentic and reproduction Revival light fixtures to fit the period of the house.

The home has four large bedrooms and a bath on the second floor.  Barbara’s grandmother’s bed, a 100-year-old rocker and an oak dresser make the blue guest room look like a cozy picture of the past.  The large master bedroom with its classic bay window affords a year-round view of the sunrise, and in the fall the autumn leaves of the century-old gingko trees outside turn the view to gold.

The couple made the decision to replace all of the windows with energy-efficient models.  The conversion is done so well that the change is hardly noticeable, but the reward in lower energy costs is great.

Barbara and Carlos love to entertain, and the new expanded kitchen and updated first floor living space can now accommodate a large crowd.  The old-fashioned wrap-around porch, which will get its own facelift in the future, and the new backyard gazebo and tile patio also come in handy for casual outdoor gatherings.

The Olivareses are definitely happy with the results of their two-year project — successfully making their period house feel like a home.