One ugly house

FREDERICKTOWN, Mo. -- There's a different color carpet in every room of Sabine Sternhauer's home .

There is floral and plaid wallpaper throughout.

The decor was so bad, the Fredericktown woman wrote about it in an essay to Lennox Industries, saying "Whoever picked out the paper, carpet and cabinets was blind and challenged in the taste department."

Apparently, the people at Lennox agreed.

The company recently recognized Sternhauer's Fredericktown home as one of the most uncomfortable in the United States and Canada, naming her runner up in the Lennox Home Comfort Makeover contest.

According to Lennox representatives, Steinhauer's story of domestic discomfort caught the attention of contest judges as they reviewed photos and essays from homeowners throughout North America.

"The kitchen is very dated, screaming 1970's or early 80's. The plaid wallpaper just ties it together nicely. Our bathrooms are dark, floral and ugly," said Sternhauer. "The tubs have mystery stains that won't come out, no matter how hard you scrub."

The heating and air conditioning system appear to be about the same age as the home, making the temperature inside less than ideal, she said.

"We hoped to have some of the renovations done already, but life has gotten in the way," said Sternhauer.

As a runner-up in the contest, the family will receive a gift certificate redeemable for Lennox heating, cooling and indoor air quality equipment.

Lennox launched the contest, a twist on the traditional home makeover contest, to bring attention to the fact that home comfort isn't just about what you see.

"Homeowners often think they'll be comfortable after the lime-green carpet is removed and the torn wallpaper is replaced, but comfort isn't just about the things you can see in your home," said environmental interior designer Victoria Schomer, who is working with Lennox to implement the grand-prize home comfort makeover.

"Musty odors, chemical vapors, mildew, dust and other airborne particles can contribute to poor indoor air quality and make even the most aesthetically appealing living environments uncomfortable," said Schomer.

The grand prize in the Lennox Home Comfort Makeover Contest - a $60,000 home comfort makeover - was awarded to a Charlestown, Ind., woman.

The contest was judged by design experts from magazines such as Country Living and the Home and Garden television network.

cmiller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128