Consumer Corner
Unexpected Spaces: Surprising home upgrade ideas
Last Updated on June 26, 2024 by Daily News Staff
(Family Features) Not all great things come in big packages, and home upgrades are an example of the truth in this wisdom. Unexpected, smaller spaces may not get the same attention as high-traffic areas like kitchens, bathrooms and living areas, but their impact can be just as powerful.
Get inspired to make improvements to the lesser-used areas of your home with these tips from the home decorating experts at Wellborn Cabinet, Inc.:
Entryway
It’s the impression that welcomes guests into your home, so even if the space is small, your entryway warrants some TLC. Focus on making it open and inviting by removing any unnecessary furnishings. Some functional storage, like a bench with integrated coat hooks, can serve a practical purpose, and if you have the space, some built-in cabinetry with an eye-catching countertop can incorporate stylish storage.
Laundry Room
Getting motivated to do chores like laundry is easy when you have a beautiful setting for getting to work. Introducing pops of color in nontraditional places, like the cabinetry, adds a high-end elegance. Water-inspired and earthy hues like Midtown Matte Tidewater or Arcadia Chiffon Cypress are perfect for the laundry space. Both are options in Wellborn Cabinet, Inc.’s Aspire Series, which features concealed hinges with self-close functionality and matching interiors for a high-class look, even when the doors are open for business.
Closet
A cluttered closet may not be the first thing a guest notices, but it’s a space you visit daily. Improving the organizational features can streamline your morning routine and put you in a more positive frame of mind to start each day. There’s no right or wrong when it comes to closet design, but using cabinetry in place of open shelving and rods lends a more luxurious feel. Plan for adequate hanging and closed storage, and if space allows, be sure to plan for shoes and accessories since these items can easily contribute to a closet’s disarray.
Mini Bar
If you fear you don’t have room for a mini bar, you may be surprised. Reimagining a larder cabinet, like the ones Wellborn Cabinet, Inc. offers in 30-, 33-, 36- and 42-inch widths, can create an instant bar out of just about any wall space where you can fit a cabinet. Install it as a coffee bar or traditional bar, or add the optional Appliance Pullout shelf for more versatility.
Pantry
Guests may not find themselves in your pantry very often, but you likely use this space every day. Transform your pantry for heightened utility in simple ways like using clear plastic bins for small boxed foods or stylish wicker baskets to hide away snacks. For a more permanent solution, take advantage of unused space on the back of the pantry door with thin shelves for items like seasoning packets and smaller canned goods.
Guest Bathroom
Swapping out a tired vanity and countertop is a relatively affordable upgrade that can completely change the style of a secondary bathroom. Be sure to also update the fixtures for a more contemporary look and, if budget allows, replace the flooring. Finish the project with a fresh coat of paint in a light, airy shade and add new textiles and a few decorative touches to complete the job.
Find more ideas for updating unexpected spaces in your home at Wellborn.com.
Hideaway Storage Spaces
One feature that enhances virtually any space is more storage. Having convenient places to tuck away all your stuff makes rooms feel more open and inviting. Hidden storage solutions are often better because you can enjoy the functionality they add to the space without interrupting your design aesthetic.
Here are some clever ideas for keeping necessary items tucked out of sight but within easy reach:
Built-in Step Stool: If you love the look of tall cabinets but struggle to reach the top shelves, a practical addition is a hidden step ladder in a pullout caddy. Specially designed ladders that fold down extra narrow and feature nonslip rubber treads make this a handy addition you’ll reach for again and again.
Paper Towel Pullout: Keep paper towels hidden but close by hiding them in a pullout cabinet such as Wellborn Cabinet Inc.’s 12-inch-wide model, which features a built-in paper towel holder and bottom shelf ideal for organizing cleaning products. There’s also a space behind the paper towels that’s perfect for storing sponges and other kitchen supplies.
Drawer Dividers: While you can find many after-market options to organize the insides of your drawers and cabinets, choosing organizers designed to work seamlessly with your cabinetry creates a more polished look (and saves the headaches of measuring and guesstimating the fit). Tray dividers are useful for sorting cookie sheets and baking pans, while you can find dividers in a variety of heights to match drawers below the oven or where you store your cutlery. Another option that serves a similar purpose is pegs, which keep fragile items from shifting when drawers are opened or closed.
SOURCE:
Wellborn Cabinet, Inc.
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Automotive
EV Interest Climbs as Gas Price Uncertainty Pushes Families Toward Electric SUVs
With ongoing uncertainty surrounding global oil prices, more U.S. consumers are buying and showing more interest in electric vehicles (EVs). The shift comes as car shoppers weigh fuel costs, improving affordability and a growing number of family-friendly electric SUVs.
EV Interest Climbs as Gas Price Uncertainty Pushes Families Toward Electric SUVs
(Feature Impact)With ongoing uncertainty surrounding global oil prices, more U.S. consumers are buying and showing more interest in electric vehicles (EVs). The shift comes as car shoppers weigh fuel costs, improving affordability and a growing number of family-friendly electric SUVs.
Watch this video to learn more
According to Spectrum News, EV sales increased in the first quarter of this year. In the same time frame, interest in new EVs increased 16% and interest in used EVs increased by 30%. As families look for opportunities to ditch the gas pump without sacrificing power or space, new all-electric options create a compelling argument for families to turn to EVs.
For those looking to offset their weekly fuel up, the 2026 Kia EV9 can save drivers around $1,800-3,400 per year compared to gas-powered SUVs. Cars.com named the 2026 Kia EV9 the Best Electric Vehicle of 2026 for the second consecutive year.
“The Kia EV9 stood out because it delivers everything we want from a modern electric SUV – strong real-world range, fast charging, excellent space and comfort, and smart flexibility across the lineup,” said Mike Hanley, Sr. Road Test Editor, Cars.com.
For those who aren’t ready to switch to a fully electric vehicle, Kia has expanded its hybrid options. The 2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid adds horsepower and updated design features, while the Kia Telluride model offers a hybrid version for the first time with a total driving range of up to 637 miles on the Ex FWD-trim.
To learn more about the Kia EV9 and Kia’s hybrid models, visit Kia at kia.com.
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Family
6 Hacks to Prep Your Mudroom for Back-to-School Season
When school is back in session, it means a lot of coming and going to and from your home – often in a rush. Start with these mudroom organization and habit hacks to make your family’s daily routines a little easier.
(Feature Impact) When school is back in session, it means a lot of coming and going to and from your home – often in a rush. Smooth out those morning scrambles and save yourself some afternoon cleanups by turning your mudroom into a space that feels more organized and less chaotic.
Start with these mudroom organization and habit hacks to make your family’s daily routines a little easier.
Do a Beginning-of-Year Declutter
If the coat hooks are still sporting rain jackets the kids outgrew several seasons ago, that’s your sign to plan a purge. Out with the old, in with the new: collect last year’s coats, too-small shoes, the backpack with the broken zipper, worn-out accessories and that pile of junk mail then figure out what to keep, toss and donate.
Create a “Get-Out-The-Door” Spot for Essentials
“Have you seen my…” is a sentence you can only stand to hear (and say) so many times in one morning. Set up shelves or baskets for important items like keys, permission slips, library books, water bottles, lunchboxes, sports gear and anything else that needs to leave the house with the family. Repetition will build the habit, and even if things still get lost from time to time, this system gives everyone a first place to look.
Choose a Shoe System
Whether you’re a shoe rack kind of family or you’ve got DIY dreams of building an aesthetic wooden bench with shoe storage underneath, lock it in. Shoes are easy for kids to kick off when they get home, and if they aren’t sure where to put them, they’ll remain wherever they land or pile up by the door. Also consider putting down washable mats so grime doesn’t accumulate on your rack or floor.
Give Each Child a Designated Drop Zone
It’s easier for kids to stay organized when they have their own dedicated spaces to hang up jackets, set down backpacks, put shoes and store everyday essentials. Provide each child with their own coat hooks, cubbies, bins or lockers. Build them at kid-friendly heights and make it fun by letting everyone decorate their own zone.
Have Options Ready for Bad Weather
With a little advanced planning, you can prevent your mudroom from living up to its name. Set up a rainy-day corner with an umbrella stand, boot tray, towel basket and hooks or racks to hang damp outerwear. Keep a laundry hamper in the mudroom, too, so wet clothes and dirty uniforms don’t migrate through the house.
Label Storage Areas Clearly
Nearly everyone’s been there: you start a new organization system feeling efficient and optimistic, then over time, memories lapse and it descends back into anarchy. Labels may not stop this from happening every time, but at least they might make kids stop and consider whether their books should go in the basket labeled “Books” or on top of the shoe rack. That’s one step closer to restoring order.
For more back-to-school tips and tricks, visit eLivingToday.com.
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
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Consumer Corner
Ford Fathom vs. Slate Truck: The Battle for the Affordable Electric Pickup
Ford Fathom vs Slate Truck: Compare price, features, range and practicality as two affordable electric pickups prepare to battle for buyers.
For years, one of the biggest complaints about electric vehicles has been simple: they cost too much.
Electric pickup trucks have made that problem even more obvious, with many models carrying prices that can quickly climb well beyond what an average truck buyer might want to spend.
Then came Slate Auto, promising something radically different — a small, simple electric pickup with a starting price below $25,000 before destination charges.
Now Ford is entering the conversation.
Meet the Ford Fathom, an upcoming midsize electric pickup expected to start at just $28,350 before destination charges.
And suddenly, the affordable electric truck market is getting very interesting.
What Is the Ford Fathom?
The Fathom is more than another electric Ford.
It’s the first production vehicle based on Ford’s new Universal Electric Vehicle Platform, an architecture designed specifically to reduce the cost and complexity of building EVs.
Ford plans to build the Fathom at its extensively retooled Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky, with production scheduled to begin in 2027.
The company says the standard-range Fathom will carry a starting MSRP of $28,350, before destination charges. Preorders are expected to begin in early 2027.
That puts Ford remarkably close to one of the most talked-about inexpensive EVs in America: the Slate Truck.
Remember the Slate Truck?
We previously covered the Slate Truck because its concept is refreshingly simple.
Instead of building an expensive truck loaded with equipment and then trying to make it cheaper, Slate essentially started with the minimum necessary to make a useful electric pickup.
The result is an intentionally basic two-seat truck.
Slate’s latest specifications list a 65-kWh LFP battery, rear-wheel drive, an estimated 205 miles of range, a 5-foot bed, 7-cubic-foot front trunk, maximum payload of 1,550 pounds and maximum towing capacity of 2,000 pounds. Slate emphasizes that these remain manufacturer estimates because the truck is still in preproduction.
The Slate’s philosophy could almost be summarized this way:
Here’s the truck. Add what you want.
That’s part of its appeal.
But Ford has apparently decided there is another way to build an inexpensive electric pickup.
Ford’s Approach: Give Buyers More From the Beginning
This may be the most important difference between the two trucks.
The Slate is deliberately minimalist.
The Fathom is being designed to feel more like the modern vehicle consumers already expect.
Ford says the Fathom will seat five people and offer features including a large high-resolution touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, digital-key capability and bidirectional power.
Every Fathom will also be BlueCruise-capable, although use of Ford’s hands-free highway-driving technology may require activation or a subscription depending on how Ford ultimately packages the service.
That creates a fascinating comparison.
The Slate asks:
How much equipment can we remove to make an EV affordable?
Ford appears to be asking:
How can we manufacture an EV differently so we don’t have to remove as much?
Those are two very different solutions to the same problem.
Ford Is Reinventing the Assembly Line, Too
Perhaps the most interesting part of the Fathom isn’t the truck itself.
It’s how Ford intends to build it.
Ford is introducing what it calls an “assembly tree” at its Louisville factory.
Rather than moving an entire vehicle through a conventional linear assembly process, major portions of the Fathom can be constructed separately before being brought together.
Ford is also using large castings and other manufacturing changes intended to reduce complexity and production time.
The company says the approach could improve manufacturing efficiency by approximately 15 percent.
In other words, Ford isn’t simply trying to build a cheaper electric truck.
It’s trying to develop a cheaper way of building electric vehicles.
If it works, the implications could extend well beyond the Fathom.
Ford Fathom vs. Slate Truck
Here’s where the matchup currently stands:Feature Ford Fathom Slate Truck Vehicle Midsize EV pickup Compact EV pickup Starting MSRP $28,350 before destination Under $25,000 before destination Seating 5 2 in pickup configuration Drive Details pending Rear-wheel drive Battery Standard-range version confirmed; capacity TBD 65-kWh LFP Estimated range Not yet announced 205 miles* Bed Yes; dimensions TBD 60.5 inches Frunk Yes 7 cu. ft. Payload TBD Up to 1,550 lb. Towing TBD Up to 2,000 lb. Touchscreen Yes Minimalist device-based approach Power windows Expected as conventional equipment Manual in base configuration BlueCruise capability Yes No Bidirectional power Yes Not comparable at present Production 2027 Preproduction/launch phase
*Slate’s range figure is a manufacturer estimate approximating the EPA test cycle and is not yet an official EPA range rating.
Slate Still Has an Important Advantage
None of this necessarily makes the Slate irrelevant.
In fact, Slate’s simplicity could become its greatest selling point.
Some buyers don’t want increasingly complicated vehicles dominated by giant screens, software subscriptions and electronic features.
They want something closer to the small pickups Americans could buy decades ago:
simple, useful and relatively inexpensive.
Slate also places customization at the center of the ownership experience. Its pickup can effectively serve as a blank canvas for owners who want to configure the vehicle around their needs.
For a small business, delivery operation, hobbyist or someone who simply wants a basic runabout with a pickup bed, that could be extremely attractive.
Ford is selling an affordable modern EV.
Slate is selling an affordable platform you make your own.
But Ford Has One Enormous Advantage
Ford is Ford.
That matters.
Slate is attempting one of the hardest things imaginable in the automotive industry: launching a new automaker while simultaneously designing, manufacturing, selling and supporting an entirely new vehicle.
Ford already has factories, suppliers, dealerships, service departments, financing operations and parts-distribution networks throughout the country.
That doesn’t guarantee the Fathom will succeed.
But it eliminates many of the uncertainties consumers face when buying a vehicle from a startup.
And when the difference between two vehicles could amount to only a few thousand dollars, that established infrastructure becomes an important part of the purchasing decision.
The Biggest Question Is Still Range
There’s one specification we desperately need before declaring a winner:
How far will the Ford Fathom travel on a charge?
Slate currently estimates approximately 205 miles from its 65-kWh battery.
Ford has confirmed that the $28,350 Fathom will use a standard-range battery, with a longer-range version expected, but the company hasn’t yet revealed official range figures.
If Ford can deliver competitive range while keeping the Fathom around the promised $30,000 threshold, it could become one of the most consequential affordable EV introductions in years.
If the base truck’s range is significantly lower, however, Slate’s proposition starts looking considerably stronger.
The Affordable Truck May Be Making a Comeback
Perhaps the most encouraging part of the Fathom-versus-Slate story has nothing to do with which company wins.
It’s the fact that manufacturers are once again talking seriously about affordable trucks.
Pickup trucks have become larger, more luxurious and substantially more expensive over the past several decades.
Slate went in the opposite direction by asking how little truck someone actually needs.
Ford is now asking whether advanced manufacturing can deliver more vehicle without dramatically increasing the price.
Those philosophies are about to meet in the marketplace.
And consumers may ultimately be the winners.
For now, we’re calling this one:
Slate is the fascinating minimalist. Ford Fathom is the potentially formidable mainstream challenger.
But we’re reserving final judgment until Ford tells us the numbers that matter most — EPA range, battery capacity, payload, towing capacity and what buyers will actually pay when the truck reaches dealerships.
What do you think? Would you choose the ultra-simple Slate Truck, or spend a little more for the five-passenger Ford Fathom? Let us know in the comments.
Follow STM Daily News Consumer Corner Automotive for updates as Ford releases additional Fathom specifications and as the Slate Truck moves closer to customer deliveries.
Sources & Related Links
- Slate Auto — Official Website — Official information on the Slate Truck, customization options, pricing and projected range. Slate currently lists the Blank Slate at $24,950 with 205 miles of projected range.
- Slate Truck — Official Specifications — Detailed manufacturer specifications covering the 65-kWh LFP battery, dimensions, charging, 1,550-pound maximum payload, 2,000-pound towing capacity and projected 205-mile range.
- Slate Auto FAQ — Useful background on pricing, deliveries, charging and Slate’s unusual minimalist approach. Slate says first deliveries are planned for late 2026 and lists a $1,450 destination charge.
- Slate Press Kit — Particularly useful for STM Daily News because Slate provides official high-resolution photography, video and media materials here.
- Slate — Getting Your Truck — Explains Slate’s direct-to-consumer purchasing process, preorders and expected delivery process.
