February 2, 2013

Jacob Grimm, owner of Brothers Grimm Landscape & Design Company, is a major sponsor of the HBA Home & Flower Show, which will bring the sweet smell of spring indoors to the John S. Knight Center in Akron on Feb. 22-24. People who attend the Home & Flower Show will find an abundance of gardens, including a beer garden, and a lot of features like outdoor kitchens that could enhance your landscaping. If you've been thinking about creating an outdoor living space, putting in a swimming pool or just sprucing up your back yard, contact the Brothers Grimm, 6408 S. Main St., Clinton, Ohio 44216. Call 330.882.4639 or visit Brothers Grimm. The company also has a booth at the Great Big Home & Garden Show taking place through Feb. 10 at the IX Center in Cleveland. The Brothers Grimm booth at both home shows features a swimming pool and other features that will give you great ideas for your own back yard.

In most homes tomorrow, the TV will be on for the Super Bowl. But a percentage of the game's 100 million viewers are tuning in because they're as curious about seeing the clever commercials as they are about the outcome of the game. This year, however, they don't even  have to wait until Sunday because a lot of companies are previewing their commercials online. Steve Caler, owner of Caler & Company, says that this is a wise move, because the advertisers are fostering more engagement with the viewers. For instance,  Budwieiser is encouraging views to log in and vote on the name for the newborn Clydesdale foal. Steve writes about Super Bowl advertising in his blog on Caler.com. Calor & Company, which specializes in communications, marketing, design and public relations, is located in the historic North Hill area at 66 E. Cuyahoga Falls Ave. in Akron. His number is 330.535.8053.

Robin Brechbuhler, an award-winning interior designer, is going to tackle the dining room of this year's Junior League Designer ShowHouse, which will open to the public in May.  We'll be posting many of the before pictures in the weeks leading up to the show. Pictured below is the dining room in its current circa 1994 state. The photos show all four views of the room as well as a close-up of the upper and lower wallpaper. To see the totally new look of the home, which is located at 657 Ridgecrest Rd. in Akron, mark your calendars to visit the Junior League Designer ShowHouse May 4 through 19. Junior League Designer Show House. By the way, congratulations to Robin, who's the new president of the Interior Design Society of Northeast Ohio. To contact her, call 330.499.7602 or visit  Brechbuhler Design.

January 26, 2013

Chris Stranahan doesn't want our listeners to forget that our outdoor feathered friends need a high-fat diet in the

extreme cold. Wild Birds Unlimited has fatty bird food, heated water bowls, and lots of great stuff to make the birds in your back yard happy.  Next month, Feb. 15 to 18, is the Great Backyard Bird Count, the national bird census. Wild Birds Unlimited is a major sponsor. To participate, contact your local store. Wild Birds Unlimited is located at 597 Howe Ave., Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 44221. To get its e-newsletter, which always offers great tips for birders, or for more information, call  330.922.4990 or visit Wild Birds Unlimited, Cuyhoga Falls. To find out how to participate in the bird count, visit  Great National Bird Count. By the way, January's bird of the month is the woodpecker.  Pictured on the left is the Red Bellied Woodpecker, photo courtesy of Wild Birds Unlimited.

Rosanna Hrabnicky, show manager, says that this is the best Great Big Home & Garden Show ever. Get advice from home experts in every aisle of the show. You will be able to visit more than 650 exhibits.  Best of all are the enchanting aromas of spring that you get when you stroll through the beautiful themed gardens. There also will be a 4,000-square-foot model home, a 2,000-square-foot dream basement with wet bar and home theater, among many amenities, and even a white-tablecloth restaurant in the garden area. It will be a fun experience for the whole family. The show runs from Feb. 2 to 10. To get discount tickets, a list of exhibitors and the hours of operation, call 440.248.5729 or go to the Great Big Home & Garden Show 

Julie Lewis of Legacy Builders and Remoders says that now is the time to start planning if you want a new kitchen for your summer entertaining. Remodeling is a process that starts with your dreams and, with the help of professionals like Julie, becomes a reality in keeping with your budget and the architectural character of your home. Speaking of a process, Julie is designing Legacy's new showroom, which will open later this year at 5751 Darrow Rd., Hudson. For more info: 330.459.3361 or Legacy Builders & Remodelers.

January 19, 2013

Margie and Ray Toombs, owners of Maid Brigade of Northeast Ohio, offer a vapor clean system that uses a patented steam-cleaning process to disinfect hard surfaces, from tile floors to ovens; eradicates dust mites from mattresses; and gets rid of pet hair from your furniture. There's a special on Maid Brigrade's oven-cleaning service right now: $50 for a cleaning that will make your oven look brand-new. Maid Brigade employees are experts at what they do and are thoroughly background checked for your confidence. You can call Maid Brigade for a one-time cleaning or establish a cleaning schedule. Call 330.453.6000 or visit Maid Brigade.

Carla Davis and Kelly Hamilton, with Akron-Summit County Public Library, and Lisa Nunn with Let's Grow Akron think it's spring, because Akron-Summit County Public Library is presenting Spring into Gardening on Feb. 2, 2013 at the Main Library, 60 S. Hight St., Akron 44326. Everyone would like a beautiful backyard with hardy plants growing everwhere. But some listeners don't have a spacious backyard, or any yard at all, especially if you are living in a condo or high-rise apartment. Spring into Gardening can help the first-time gardener and seasoned pro alike have a great garden in no time. The topics include "Creative Container Gardening," "Gardening for Small Spaces" and "Akron Grows/Let's Grow Akron," which helps you plan your next garden with help from the Akron Gorws community program and Let's Grow Akron. To reserve a space at the library's Spring into Gardening program, call 330.643.9075 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  For more information: Akron-Summit County Public Library.

Ohio Design Centre is holding its annual sample sale on Feb. 25 and 26. The Ohio Design Centre, the only home-furnishings resource of its kind between New York City and Chicago, is now open to the public all year long, according to spokeswoman Crickett Karson. Next weekend's sale, which runs 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday the 25th and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, offers homeowners a unique opportunity to purchase high-end home furnishings (custom furniture, decorative accessories, rugs and lighting) directly off the floor at a dramatic savings of up to 70 percent off the retail price. Admission is $5, which benefits the Cleveland Furniture Bank. The Ohio Design Centre also has a designer referral service. To find a designer or more information on any Ohio Design Centre programs, call 216.831.1245 or visit Ohio Design Centre.  The Ohio Design Centre, 23533 Merchantile Rd., Beachwood, OH 44122.

January 12, 2013

Robin Wilson, owner of Robin Wilson Home, believes that creating an eco-freindly home does not have to be an overwhelming project. Check out Robin's simple tips on Your Beautiful Life. Robin has been featured on Fox Business, the Huffington Post, and Bloomberg Business Week. Her new line of hypoallergenic bedding is available at Bed Bath and Beyond online and soon will be available in stores. For more information: Robin Wilson Home

ServiceMaster by Corbett has been cleaning up after home disasters since 1980. If you have experienced a flood, fire or any other kind of disaster, ServiceMaster by Corbett can be there immediately to start the cleanup process. Don Corbett offers plenty of advice for the average homeowner seeking to avert a disaster. For instance, to prevent flooding, know the location of your main water shutoff valve and replace rubber washing machine hoses every two to three years. Call 330.864.7300 when disaster hits. ServiceMaster by Corbett is located at 1325 S. Main St. in Akron. Visit ServiceMaster by Corbett.

Ages Tribal Arts owner Eric Schickendantz is the largest tribal arts dealer between Chicago and Philadelphia. His gallery, at 194 Myrtle Place near the corner of W. Market and Maple St. in Akron, is open by appointment. It's bursting at the seams with decorative items such as tribal masks, fossilized carvings, statues, jewelry, and textiles. Call 330.434.1010 or visit the marvelous website Ages Tribal Arts.