Shop talk

        Thomasville at Target: Creative Interiors, the ready-to-assemble furniture division of Thomasville, has created the Renovations label for the chain. The furniture, contemporary in design with metal divider accents and brushed silver hardware, will be exclusive at Target stores. The lines will include bedroom, home office, entertainment and storage pieces priced $49-$149.

Earth Smart

        Emissions green thumbs: Northern Kentucky's Emissions Check stations in Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties, brought some native habitat back to the area by landscaping their grounds with hardy plants native to Kentucky.

        The stations were planted with flowers to attract butterflies and hummingbirds, including goldenrod, purple and orange coneflower, meadow phlox, wild bergamot, bluestems, coreopsis, Culver's root and sunflowers.

        “The plants just make the visit here a little more pleasant for our customers, and they symbolize what the stations are all about — environmental protection,” says Bob Maley, Envirotest's senior station manager. The blooming should continue into the fall with chrysanthemums and annuals.

Wise Buys

        New colonial colors: A new Colonial Williamsburg line of paints reproduced from the authentic, 18th-century painted structures in the historic area in Virginia, includes 150 surprisingly rich, contemporary shades — Tucker Cupboard Orange and Palace Ballroom Blue to warm hues of Brush Damask Gold and Raleigh Tavern Green. The line includes latex base interior and exterior coatings. At paint and hardware stores.

        Light the way: A new series of lamps, VisionSavers, has a special bulb designed to produce a more naturally lit environment for reading with no distortion or glare. It's designed to ward off eye strain, especially from computer work. Photobiologist Dr. John Nash developed the Ott-Light bulb usings a blend of phosphors that replicates natural daylight, the light with which your eyes are most comfortable. The bulb is touted as producing visual clarity up to 40 percent greater than light from typical cool, white lamps. The desktop Portable Magnifying Lamp version is equipped with a 1x magnifying lens. MacToday gave the lamps five stars. It has a top handle for easy portability. About $70 at RadioShack and Office Depot. Other sizes and styles available. (800) 842-8848.

In Print

        Mix-and-match decorating: What Goes with What: Home Decorating Made Easy (Capital Books; $17.95) by interior designer Lauren Smith is a how-to book aimed at helping you decide what your style is and then expressing it in home furnishings, accessories, lights, paint and wallpaper. The book starts with a quiz to determine your style, then moves into finding furniture, arranging rooms and choosing fabrics, wall, floor and window coverings.

        Contact Joy Kraft by phone: 768-8467; fax: 768-8330; e-mail: jkraft@enquirer.com

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