(StatePoint) Once-upon-a-time you loved the look of your living space, but now it feels so last-century. If this sounds like you, consider injecting new energy into your home by making a few high-impact changes without a high-roller budget.

Clever use of colors in combination with smart lighting can enliven rooms so they give off a more compelling, modern vibe without the need for costly remodeling projects or expensive furniture.

Color transformations

Color both soothes and stirs the senses. Accent walls are a great way to introduce bold color and contrast, infusing a room with a sense of adventure, playfulness or drama.

Bring vitality to any room in the home by painting one wall a vivid shade to frame a focal point such as a dramatic piece of artwork.

Continue reading: Modernize interior with simple steps

BIG TIMBER — When Jackie den Boer built her Montana getaway cabin five years ago, she had one “must have” in terms of location: “I wanted a place where I could sit on the porch and not hear a single manmade sound,” said den Boer.

Her exact location, which den Boer will only say is “where the prairie meets the Rockies,” provides the privacy, wildlife and only the natural symphonies of sound she was seeking. She shared the tale of how her dream retreat embodies an eclectic Montana-meets-the-world confluence of styles and materials.

Its path to construction and completion shows den Boer’s ingenuity and appreciation of reusing available materials. The 17-by-70 foot home was built in part from the abandoned barn and farmhouse of a 1900-era homestead.

The goal was to create a pioneer-style cabin, placed to take advantage of the mountain views. “The barn was dismantled and restacked as the cabin, using the original barn wood and dimensions,” said den Boer. “The farmhouse had to be razed, but we were able to save the oak and fir floors and some beams, which we used in building the new house.”

The rugged exterior is capped by a metal roof whose inspiration came from half a world away: den Boer’s business trips to Japan. “These were the kind of uniform cover roofs I saw in Japan, but which is very different for Montana,” she explained. She traveled across the state collecting corrugated metal sheets to add to the ones found on the old homestead.

Continue reading: Varying cultures, materials inspire log cabin’s design

(StatePoint) Between books, toys and years of accumulated “stuff,” a home can feel cluttered.  And most families quickly run out of available storage space.

However, with a few smart tweaks, you can create new storage solutions for much-needed space, and dramatically alter the feel, flow and look of your home.

“There are a number of simple, quick and low-cost solutions that can truly open up space in the home,” says John J. Isch, principal at RWA Architects and co-chair of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Custom Residential Architects Network.

Furniture can be used for dual purposes to create extra storage space. Beds, for example, can be built into walls to open up a room. Drawers and other types of storage units can be added into or placed underneath bed frames.

Instead of chairs, use benches with storage underneath or inside to save space and create an extra area for storage. Like beds, benches can also be built into walls.

Continue reading: Ways to add more storage

(StatePoint) Now is the time to plan and decorate your home for fall. This autumn, consider trying your hand at do-it-yourself home projects that add seasonal warmth and color to the home — while creating fun for your whole family.

“A great way to add excitement to seasonal décor for fall is with timely crafting projects with a theme or consistent color scheme,” said Nicole Long, manager of inspiration at Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores. “This year, accenting traditional autumn colors like orange and brown with teals and purples can visually transform your home and will also liven up any seasonal party.”

If you’re having trouble getting inspired, here’s an ideal project for teens and adults from the experts at Jo-Ann:

Paisley Floor Pillows

(Approximate crafting time: 2 1/2 hours)

Continue reading: Decorating ideas can transform your home

(StatePoint) Nothing says “welcome to my home” quite like an impressive entryway. Attention to detail and some added extra touches of hospitality can transform any ho-hum entry into a warm and inviting approach to a home.

“A front door should have good energy efficiency features, a snug fit to the frame and an appealing color,” says Mark Clement, a professional contractor and host of the home improvement radio show, MyFixItUpLife. “If you’re missing any of those elements, consider investing in a new front entryway.”

Start with the basics. Evaluate the look and condition of your front door. Determine if your current door needs to be replaced or just enhanced with a decorative urethane pediment, crosshead and pilasters.

If you’re replacing your door, consider one made of secure fiberglass that resists denting and scratching, is easy to maintain, energy efficient and quiet, such as one from the Therma-Tru Classic-Craft Canvas Collection, which is a “Consumers Digest Best Buy” recipient. The smooth, paintable finish on this door allows you to select any accent paint color for your home.  

Quality products are important, so don’t forget to add a touch of appeal to your home’s entryway. Start with decorative glass for the doorlites and potentially your sidelites. You can select from privacy glass or designer elegant features and colors in attractive glass packages to create a warm, welcoming entryway.

Continue reading: Brighten entryway to home

HELENA – As construction season heads into fall, the Montana Department of Labor and Industry wants to remind businesses and homeowners to use caution when choosing a contractor.
Warning signs to watch out for include: the contractor will only accept payment in cash; is pressuring you into making a hasty decision, requiring you to pay in full up front, using high pressure sales tactics, arrives in an unmarked car or van, or refuses to give you a written estimate, contract or references.
Also, verify the contractor is registered with the state of Montana and check with the State Construction Contractor Registration Unit to be sure that the contractor is in compliance.
Other tips:
• Find out if the contractor belongs to an industry association
• Check for proper insurance (Liability, Workers’ Compensation)
• Call references; look at past projects
• Have a contract detailing every aspect of the project.
 including how and when paid
* Communicate. Assure each of you have a complete understanding of expectations
* Visually inspect each part of the project
Consumers who believe they have been scammed by a fly-by-night contractor who has taken their money but not performed the work promised, should contact the Office of Consumer Protection at (800) 481-6896 or (406) 444-4500.
For more information on hiring the right contractor or to find a list of local contractors in your area log onto www.mtcontractor.com or call 406-444-7734.

FLASH IN THE PAN

By ARI LEVAUX

When Steve Cooksey was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, a registered dietician advised him to eat a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet. Rather than follow that advice blindly, Cooksey read the available scientific literature and decided to do roughly the opposite of what he’d been advised. He proceeded to lose 78 pounds on a high-fat, low-carb diet that was nearly absent of processed foods.

Cooksey’s blood-sugar level dropped into the normal range, and he was cleared by his doctor to stop taking insulin. Three years later, Cooksey remains slim and healthy, but now finds himself with a different sort of diet problem, thanks to a letter he received from the North Carolina Board of Dietetics/Nutrition. It accused him of practicing nutrition counseling without a license, and threatened to charge him with crimes that could result in jail time if he refused to make changes to his blog, diabetes-warrior.net.

The legal basis for the letter is a North Carolina law known as the Dietetics/Nutrition Act. It’s one of 47 state laws that criminalize the giving, by “unlicensed persons,” of nutritional advice regarding a medical condition. Such laws are in place largely due to lobbying efforts by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), the professional organization that represents the nation’s registered dietitians. (Until recently, the AND was known as the American Dietetics Association).

The North Carolina law claims its purpose is “to safeguard the public health, safety and welfare and to protect the public from being harmed by unqualified persons by providing for the licensure and regulation of persons engaged in the practice of dietetics/nutrition.”

Continue reading: Dietitians go after unlicensed advice providers

MontanaFair and Sankey Rodeo Co. are hosting the PRCA ProRodeo in a three- day event. Hosted at the outdoor Grandstands, this event takes place at 7 p.m. Aug. 16-18.

With at least 400 competitors, these rough and  tumblers will be competing for almost $100,000 in prize money. The Sankey Rodeo Co. of Joliet will be providing the livestock and entertainment for the rodeo.

Trick roping stunts in between events will be performed by Tomas Garcilazo from California. Providing quality distractions while saving a cowboy’s behind will be Dusty Duba, and Joe Butler, Pro–Bull fighters.

Coming all the way from New York with slapstick entertainment will be rodeo clown Dusty Bennet. Shipton’s Big R  will have giveaways at each of the three rodeo performances. Ten kids’ stick horses, 30 T-shirts, and five pair of Wranglers will be given out each night.

Be sure and check out “The Cowboy Club” on The MontanaFair website. Help support and encourage the heritage, history, and future of professional rodeo. Members of the club receive benefits that offer a “First Class Opportunity” to enjoy rodeo.

Continue reading: 3 days of rodeo part of MontanaFair week

The Montana State BBQ Championship at MontanaFair, scheduled for August 15-16 (Wednesday-Thursday), is a Kansas City BBQ Society sanctioned, professional BBQ cooking competition.

The competition will bring together professional and amateur BBQ competition teams from across the United States and Canada for two days of competition at MontanaFair.

The Kansas City Barbeque Society is dedicated to the promotion and enjoyment of barbeque. The KCBS is the largest organization of barbecue and grilling enthusiasts in the world. There are more than 14,000 professional members around the world and over 300 sanctioned barbecue contests within the U.S. 

KCBS sanctioned events provide the most respected form of judging and scoring in the world of BBQ. KCBS provides representatives for the contest and access to certified BBQ judges.

 Following the judging on Thursday, Aug. 16, BBQ competitors may choose to offer samples for sale from 5-9 p.m. that evening. “MontanaFair Bones Bucks” will be available for sale and tasting

Continue reading: Barbecue championship set

By ALAN SCULLEY - Last Word Features

After the drug overdose death of singer Bradley Nowell cut short the career of Sublime in 1996, just before the song “What I Got” broke through on radio and gave the group a No. 1 alternative rock single, the surviving members, Bud Gaugh and Eric Wilson, didn’t try to trade on the Sublime name.

Instead, they formed a group called the Long Beach Dub Allstars featuring several other musicians that had collaborated with Sublime, such as Michael “Miguel” Happoldt (of the Ziggens), Todd Forman (of 3rd Alley) and “Field” Marshall Goodman.

That band lasted until 2002, by which time drummer Gaugh had joined the short-lived group Eyes Adrift, which also featured Krist Novoselic of Nirvana and Curt Kirkwood of the Meat Puppets, while bassist Wilson went on to form the group Long Beach Short Bus.

So it probably caught more than a few people off guard when Gaugh and Wilson resurfaced in 2009 with singer/guitarist Rome Ramirez, billing themselves as Sublime when they played Cypress Hill’s “Smokeout Festival” in San Bernardino, Calif.

Now the trio has released its first CD, “Yours Truly,” under the name Sublime with Rome. The group adopted the new name after Nowell’s family and estate sued to prevent the trio from performing or recording under the name Sublime.

Continue reading: Sublime gets act together with revised name