dream home 2012

Dream Home 2012

a special supplement to the May 11, 2012 edition of

Dream Home May 11, 2012

,

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May 11, 2012 Dream Home

By Erika MoonFrontiersman.com

WASILLA — When it comes to creating their dream home, many people’s thoughts turn to an awe-inspiring home theatre system to enjoy with their family and show off to their friends. New gadgets have made bringing the best quality theatre equipment into your home possible. AND Nick Kenshalo with Image Audio in Wasilla has some tips to get you started.When looking into installing a new home theater system, he says there are a few things to consider. Size of the room and budget are important factors. “We usually try to determine what the room is going to be used for — is it specifi-cally for watching movies?” Kenshalo said. If you’re interested in a larger system with a projector, for example, you will need a designated room. The amount of light in a room will impact which system will be the best invest-ment. “For well-lit rooms, you can’t use a plasma TV or a projector, LCDs are great for well-lit rooms.”If you are working with a smaller room for your theater system, you can still upgrade your sound without the cumbersome speakers and extra wiring by us-ing a soundbar speaker system. These systems simulate surround sound using a singular front speaker (and sometimes a subwoofer) and can be a great match with a flat-screen TV.

If you have a larger space to play with — the options are a bit more varied. With new construction, Kenshalo suggests having an associate from the store come by for a consultation. They can take a look at your floor plan and available space to give you a better idea of what options are available to you. “It is significantly easier if you plan ahead,” he said. Even if you are adding a new system to upgrade your current home, the same rules apply. “Every house is different, it is always a good idea to have someone come out.”Those with a smaller budget can still upgrade to a much better system. Image Audio carries manufacturers like Polk and Kipsch that have developed micro systems that make getting that 5.1 sound possible for under $1,000. Another cost-conscious option is to purchase a receiver and front speakers to start, and then build from there.Kenshalo said the most common price range for a full theater system is from $2,500 to $3,000. Items such as the 3D TVs from Polk and Kipsch are extremely popular, especially around the holidays.For those who want to go “all out,” Image Audio also has projector systems to make the at-home experience as close to the movie theater experience as pos-sible. According to Kenshalo, quality 3D projector systems typically include the pro-jector, home receiver, speakers and a screen. Image Audio offers installation services as well. This type of system starts at about $5,000.

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In the spectrum of home upgrades, hot tubs and spas are popular additions. It’s a great option for those looking for a place to relax and enjoy the Alaska scenery from their own patio or backyard. There are several things to consider before making decision to buy a new spa. Ryan Jew, at Arctic Home Living, has a few tips.First, investigate the efficiency of your prospective new spa. In Alaska, the cli-mate can make this a major issue. “Some hot tubs can be up to a couple hundred dollars to maintain, while the more efficient models can cost as little as $25 to $30 a month,” Jew said, adding that efficiency depends mainly on the brand, size, frequency of use and cost of electricity in the area. When gauging spa efficiency, ask the sales person to show you how the tub is insulated. You will find one of two things: the tub will either be fully insulated – meaning that it has as little as one-sixth of an inch around the entire shell, or it will be a fully foam-filled spa. While fully foam-filled spas may seem more efficient, they do bring with them a separate set of issues. These spas are, just like they sound, completely filled with the foam insulation, meaning the foam is packed around all the parts and pipes. The option of going with less foam doesn’t necessarily make the spa less efficient, Jew said, and may save you money in repairs in the future. If there is a mechani-cal issue with the tub, or if it has a leak, all of the foam around the offending parts has to be chiseled out before the issue can even be seen to fully diagnose. To put it into perspective, Jew said that a tub that isn’t fully filled may take one to two hours to repair, adding up to about $100 in labor. A fully filled tub may have you looking at five to six hours of labor, averaging $500-$600. Mildew is also more likely to be a concern with a fully filled spa.The next aspect you should consider when purchasing a hot tub is finding a good filtration and sanitation system. Jew described a growing trend toward customers wanting options that don’t involve chlorine or bromine. One such option is using a silver nitrate system, which has anti-bacterial proper-ties and basically uses silver to sanitize the water. This is cost-effective and typi-cally runs about $30 for four months. Another option is a UV filter, which utilizes ultraviolet light with no byproducts, also very effective. Jew said there is a salt system for purification, but it essen-tially separates the sodium and chloride, effectively making chlorine.Regardless of your system, Jew still recommends a quarter-ounce of chlorine a week. While many people balk at the thought of putting such a harsh chemical into their spa water, that amount is enough for general upkeep, and the chemical is usually gone within two hours, he said.Another thing you should check, whether purchasing a new or used spa, is the cover.“If it doesn’t have a full center baffle, it’s like not having a roof,” Jew said.This creates a better seal and, again, helps with spa efficiency and general longev-ity. Most new spas come with a full cover, but to purchase or replace one will cost about $700.

The options for hot tubs at Arctic Home Living are varied, ranging from $6,000 to $20,000 depending on your “wish list.” Jew listed the Sundance line as having the best ratings for massage, while the Arctic Spas are highly regarded as being most efficient. He also explained that the operation cost for both of these spas is not vastly dif-ferent, so it does come down to personal preference.Once you’ve made your purchase, there are a few ways to protect your investment and improve the longevity of your new spa. “Don’t let it freeze,” Jew cautioned. “Letting a tub freeze is like letting your car run out of oil.” Especially with the often harsh winter climate, always keep power to the spa to prevent freezing. Typically there is a 3-5 day window before it freezes. But that gap closes when there is no power to heat the tub.Also, addressing the chemical issue, it is essential that you use the water-balanc-ing products to maintain the tub and extend its longevity to ensure you can enjoy it for years to come.

chooSing thE right Spa for you


Ryan Jew sits on the edge of the J480 hot tub at Arctic Home Living in Wasilla. The jacuzzi uses an ultraviolet light sanitizer instead of chlorine.


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a pEEk inSidE: thE hoME of rick MyStroM

By andrEw wEllnErFrontiersman.com

So you’ve reached a point in your life where you’ve got enough money to spend on a second home. Where are you headed? Arizona? Hawaii? California?Rick Mystrom said he and his wife, Mary, considered all three of those places. They debated. Thought about it. And settled on Wasilla. An odd choice, sure, but talking to Mystrom about it, you quickly understand. This is a house built with recreation in mind. It’s built to facilitate fun. He can tie his boat up out back. There’s a big fire pit. There’s an outdoor show-er. There’s a bathroom dedicated to rinsing off and changing into dry clothes, so lake water and mud don’t get tracked through the place. Mystrom is convincing and, really, he has a point. Aside from sunshine, those traditional recreation spots have little to offer that the shores of Finger Lake don’t also have.Mystrom said his home is also a gathering place, hence the three guest bedrooms and plans for a boathouse with three more.“It’s sort of a home for family reunions and friends,” Mystrom said. The house is essentially on the same level as the lake, he said, so a basement was out of the question. But he and Mary didn’t let that keep them from building a place for the grandkids. A portion of the second story overlooking the ground floor is stocked with toys and rimmed with railing to keep kids in. A gate on one side can swing open and play a second role as a safety gate to keep wayward toddlers off the stairs.

Mystrom’s not retired, but he’s not doing as much as he once did. You probably know him as Anchorage’s mayor from 1994 to 2000. He’s also a successful land-lord — he’s been buying apartment buildings since the ’70s. “My son runs our company,” he said, though he maintains a role. “My job de-scription is the buying, the selling, the fishing and the golf.” He’s also involved in politics and hosts political events at the Finger Lake house. He’s helping the Mat-Su Borough win funding for a railroad extension to Point MacKenzie. And he’s writing a book about his life as a diabetic. A lot of this work he does from one of those guest bedrooms, which is sort of a bedroom/office hybrid. He jokes good-naturedly with Mary that this is the one room of the house she doesn’t like since he was in charge of decorating it. The walls are covered mostly with framed press clippings from his achievements. The rest of the house is filled with mostly Alaska art. Mary says that some of the pieces come from local artists, some from relatives. The walls are all blue. Mystrom said that’s in keeping with a generally nautical theme throughout.Not all of the wall-hangings are art, per se. A framed poster-size photograph on one wall comes from one of Mystrom’s children’s wedding. There’s also a framed pair of letters from Mystrom’s father’s time in World War II, during which he took part in the invasion of Normandy.Probably the most striking piece of artwork on the grounds is actually outside the house — a life-size bear peering into one of the windows of the master bed-room. Mystrom says it’s inspired by a famous three-story blue bear installed at a convention center in Denver. One of his sons commissioned the one at the Mystrom home and there’s a chil-dren’s book to go along with it wherein one of Mystrom’s grandchildren is told fables of the Colorado bear and the Mystrom family joins together to create their own rendition. “It’s a very family-oriented house,” Mystrom said.


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Whether you live in a sprawling country house, a small apart-ment in a city, or a quaint suburban residence, the extra thought and care that is put into the interior décor help to make it a home. Customizing your space into your dream home can be a fun and rewarding experience.For smaller spaces, there are many options to brighten and give the illusion of a larger area. Experimentation with paint colors and furniture layout are good places to start.“Paint the outside wall (one with windows or a glass door) a much darker color and the surrounding walls a light shade, that makes the accent wall appear like it keeps going,” said Mae Pauling, owner of Interiors by Mae. If you have the option of investing in a remodel, leaving extra space between your cabinet and your ceiling is another good tip from Pauling. You can place potted plants or decorative ac-


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cents on top of the cabinets to give the illusion that your ceiling is taller. You can also increase the perception of the height of a certain room by choosing a dark flooring and going lighter as you move up along the furniture, cupboards, and accents.“One big thing is to de-clutter,” said Susan Gillespie of Gil-lespie Home Staging and Design, in regard to working with a small area. You can downsize your furniture. Perhaps get rid of a few piec-es you rarely use. She also encouraged a paint color change to make a room seem more open. Brighter colors, she said, will make the space appear larger. If you find yourself dealing with the opposite issue – a very large open space – and want to create a homier feel, it can be tricky to accomplish filling the space without becoming cluttered. A good way to avoid this is to break it down into sections. “For example, if you have a 20-by-30 long living room, you’d want to divide it into four spaces,” Pauling said. “Then fill it with things that are usable – desks, gaming areas, et cetera. Whatever fits the family’s lifestyle.”Gillespie suggested breaking down a very large area with a full


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or partial wall to create an office or family center. This would be a good place for a computer or books – again, whatever fits your lifestyle.When designing for a family, it is important to consider the impact young children have on furniture and décor. Gillespie encouraged the use of decorative boxes or baskets that can be turned into the kids’ space. They can keep their toys, books and movies in that area. For more expensive household purchases, like a new home the-ater system, consider finding furniture like an entertainment center with doors that you can close to keep younger children from damaging the system or hurting themselves.On a budget? There are many small, easy ways to spruce up your home décor. For the kitchen, Interiors by Mae suggests adding an island – it gives a room additional character instantly. Adding or changing your wallpaper is another popular cost-efficient upgrade. If you are willing to put in a little more ef-fort, Pauling said finding a focal point in any given room – like a fireplace – and giving it a little more oomph by adding stone or tile up the wall behind it is a good way to add personal flair.“It can be as simple as adding a few new pillows to brighten a room, or getting plants that add color,” Gillespie, at Gillespie Home Staging and Design, explained. New bedding, different curtains, area rugs, artwork, framed mirrors and pictures, when placed well, can give a home an instant makeover.

Making thE MoSt of your SpacE

cont. from page 7


By hEathEr a. rESZFrontiersman.com

WASILLA — Alyson Tuomi sells possibilities.“It’s all about appealing to the broadest amount of buyers,” she said of her business, Set the Scene Home Staging.March 12, Tuomi was working in a house off Bertha Lane in Wasilla. The seller wasn’t completely sold on hiring Tuomi to stage her home, so the offered to demonstrate the possibilities.The home has been on the market for six months and the seller has dropped the price $40,000. Now she’s considering hiring Tuomi to stage her home in an effort to sell it more quickly and at a better price.A new graduate of the Accredited Staging Professional Course created by Barb Schwarz, Tuomi got started staging homes three years ago when it was time for her young family to move to a larger home.Born and raised in Wasilla, Tuomi said after high school she had big plans to attend Fashion Institute of Design and Mer-chandising in California and get a degree in Visual Communi-cations. But her career plans were sidetracked when she fell in

love with Justin Tuomi. They have three children together — Eli, Jackson and Abbi.Shortly after the birth of their third child, Tuomi said they de-cided to try to sell their house themselves and keep more of the profits. “I started researching home selling tips and came across infor-mation on home staging,” she said. “I researched and found that it is similar to visual communications in that you are put-ting a product on display and enticing buyers to stop and look.”She staged their home, two weeks later it sold and the couple turned a profit.“I was thrilled and know that staging was a big part of that,” Tuomi said. “It’s something I enjoy.”When she staged her own home, she relied on a book by Schwarz, who came up with the concept of home staging. Tuomi turned to her again when she decided to make a business out of stag-ing homes. She completed a three-day webinar class taught by Schwarz through her Stagedhomes.com website.Working in a basement bedroom at that Bertha Lane home last Monday, Tuomi said she tries first to use the homeowner’s fur-niture and decorations before moving in a house full of her own

From staged to sold Woman stages sells

oWn home, starts staging business

Alyson Tuomi sits inside one of the rooms she has staged in a house that is currently on the market. Tuomi owns Set the Scene Home Staging.


home decorations.“It’s all about perception when the buyer walks in,” she said.To that end, she moved a light colored dresser into that Ber-tha Lane bedroom, raised the blinds, removed the brass foot-board from the bed, added a light colored bedspread and placed some complimentary pictures on the wall above the headboard.The idea is to help buyers imagine their family living in the space, she said. But most people need a bit of help imag-ing the possibilities. “Only 10 percent of people can see what it is going to be,” Tuomi said.Set the Scene Home Staging offers clients a price range of home staging services from verbal and written consulta-tions to full-service staging of either vacant or resale homes, she said.To compete in the marketplace, Tuomi said houses must be priced right and look better than the other houses on the mar-ket. She said selling a home is no different than selling other prod-ucts; you must present them to buyers in the best way possible. “People compare the homes — stage and unstaged,” Tuomi said. “Before buyers decide to buy, they need to mentally move in their own things into a home. If a home has too much or too little in it, it is difficult for buyers to visualize how their own things will look in the home.”

Staging is a tool to prepare a home for sale so it appeals to the largest number of buyers and generates the highest price in the least amount of time on the market, Tuomi said.“I know that this will help many homeowners trying to sell in this market,” she said. Tuomi is an Accredited Staging Professional and a member of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals.For more information, contact Alyson Tuomi at 232-9116, [email protected] or visit setthescenestaging.com.

Contact managing editor Heather A. Resz at 352-2268 or [email protected].

Alyson Tuomi ponders the arrangment of framed artwork before placing them on the wall during a staging at a

Wasilla home.

hoME Staging

cont. from page 9


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dream home 2012

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