(Guest Post written by our friend Gladys Fuentes) My son’s best friend from high school just got a professional baseball contract to play out in Texas. My son went to visit him last week with some of their other high school friends as sort of a reunion. Of course my son thought that his friend ...
As gas prices continue to rise, many folks I talk to are considering home improvement projects focused on their backyard. In fact, this trend is growing nationwide and is referred to in some circles as “outdoor living.” I was recently at a Spring Home & Garden Show that highlighted a large number of landscapes and ...
(Family Features) From June to Sept., roses add a special flourish to yards, gardens and public parks throughout the U.S. But for many gardeners, tending roses may seem intimidating. With 23 years of experience, Jamie Shiffer, head gardener at Hershey Gardens in Hershey, Pa., knows a thing or two about cultivating a beautiful rose, in ...
(Family Features) A beautiful landscape doesn’t happen on its own. You can help your lawn, trees and shrubs get off to a healthy growing season. “Trees and shrubs add tremendous appeal to our urban home environments, but to thrive, particularly out of their natural world, they require regular care with added nutrients and protection against ...
(Thanks to Olga Quinn) Mom and I have been looking into ADT South Franklin for her house because I worry about her being out there all alone. I really wish I didn’t have to but since dad died I worry about her being lonely and really jus not safe out there – I keep trying ...
While it’s March and still cold in the Midwest, thoughts of summertime are easy to come by, wishing for warm, sunny days. Sometimes I think of childhood memories … neighborhood friends getting together to spend a hot July afternoon and a seemingly endless day swimming, diving, jumping and playing Marco Polo until dinnertime. Fast forward ...
Taking care care of your pool is not nearly as difficult as it may seem from first blush. With that said, starting out without any experience can make taking care of a pool a bit overwhelming. When we bought a house with an in-ground pool, it was our first time as pool owners. During our ...
Today, I spent time researching carpet cleaning chemicals, specifically looking for “green” alternatives that are not harmful to the environment and safe for children and pets. My search results included The Steam Team in Austin, Texas (http://www.thesteamteam.com/). Interestingly, right under their “Carpet Cleaning” menu item was a menu item labeled “Green Services.” Clicking through to ...
(Family Features) The holidays bring celebrations with friends and loved ones – as well as the stress of setting the perfect table and plenty of opportunities for spills and accidents. But don’t fret – Tracy Hutson, a designer on “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” has some tips to help you and your home get ready for ...
The new 30-page FRESH Home Exterior Colors guide is now available online to help homeowners, remodelers and builders select the perfect colors for the exterior of the home. Written by national color expert Kate Smith of Sensational Color, the free downloadable tool is designed to make it easy for people to choose color palates that ...
(Family Features) Shorter days and cooler nights mean more time spent indoors. For many Americans, this is the perfect season to take simple steps toward a cleaner and more efficient home. According to a recent survey by the Cleaning Institute Organization, 96 percent of people think it’s very important to have a clean home. But ...
If you’re a person with a penchant for seasonal decorating, why not fashion the interior of your home with change in mind? By planning ahead, you can make it easy to modify your surroundings to be seasonally-or even holiday-appropriate. To accommodate changing décor, you should paint your walls a light neutral color, such as ...
Fall Care for Heat-Damaged Yards (Family Features) Extreme weather over the summer left a lot of lawns and landscapes showing signs of damage. With some time, patience and work, it’s possible to get your yard back in order and ready for the winter. “Signs of typical summer wear and tear on lawns were amplified as ...
Protect Your Deck Now (Family Features) Colder temperatures, snow, and ice can do some damage on the exterior of your home, especially to wooden decks. Harsh winter weather can deteriorate the wood, ruin the look, and depreciate the value of your deck. Take extra care of it now so that your deck is in tip-top ...
Who Are Today’s Homeless? According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH), between 700,000 and 800,000 people are homeless on any night in the US, with between 2.5 and 3.5 million people experiencing homelessness during the course of a year. More than one million of them are children. Research indicates that – of the ...
(Marketwire – 05/30/11) – (Family Features) As America’s economy strengthens, remodeling and home renovations are on a rise. “Homeowners are looking for ways to refurbish their stream homes, rather than shopping a new property,” pronounced Sarah Reep, executive of engineer family and preparation during KraftMaid Cabinetry. “From simply adding a new faucet to totally gutting ...
This blog post is the first in a series which will outline the 10 key principles of Lean Design. Before we begin, you may be asking yourself: “What is Lean Design?” “The concept of lean architectural design is often misunderstood,” according to Todd Hallett, AIA, CAPS and President of TK Design & Architecture, Inc. “Elimination ...
As Spring arrives, the National Safety Council (NSC) and the Window Safety Task Force encourage adults to recognize the importance of practicing window safety year-round. This is the perfect time to remind all households that open windows can be dangerous for young children who are not properly supervised. While the number of falls from windows is ...
With the promise of spring, the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) reminds homeowners that this is the ideal opportunity to prepare their cooling equipment for the hot summer months to ensure it operates at its highest efficiency. “Heating and cooling is the single biggest energy consumer in a home, and accounts for about 40 ...
Is it really possible to gain 40% more space from an existing closet or storage area? “Yes it is possible, and maybe more,” according to Jo Golda of Jo’s Cleaning & Organizing. “Depending on the closet or storage area, the proper designed layout and the products used to reorganize that closet, doubling the amount of ...
According to Fibrenew, these are the top five party stains to leather furniture and hints on how to (or not to) clean them: 1) FOOD OR WINE STAIN DON’T use window/mirror cleaner because it contains alcohol which will dissolve and destroy the surface coating on your leather. DO use a damp towel to wipe up ...
The concept of “aging-in-place” is simply allowing people to continue to live in the home of their choice safely and independently as they get older. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), modifications for aging-in-place is the fastest growing segment of the residential remodeling industry. According to an AARP “Fixing to Stay” survey, ...
Imagine you’re preparing to host your annual holiday party, suggests the National Association of REALTORS®and you’re past the point of no return. The veggies and meats have been bought. Guests are already braving busy airports and crowded highways to get to your home—and then your oven won’t turn on. Your home-cooked meal has quickly turned ...
According to the American Society of Interior Designers, even if you’re not ready for a major remodel, make safety a part of your next home spruce up. Here are some tips from Lisa Bonneville, FASID, of Manchester-by-the-Sea, Mass., the author of an ASID book on designing a safe home. 1. When replacing bedding, select natural ...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency enacted a new rule for professional contractors in April 2010 to help keep small children safer from the dangers of lead dust exposure. If you live in a home built before 1978 and you’re contemplating any work that will disturb more than six square feet of painted surfaces inside the home or 20 square ...
Energy efficiency is all the buzz right now — it is not only earth-friendly, but it can also be friendly to your wallet. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), by combining two strategies – curtailing energy use and investing in efficiency improvements – you may create more long-term benefits both environmentally and ...
It’s the weekend and you have a whole list of household chores to do. Oh, we know you’d rather be golfing or playing tennis or watching TV, but keeping your home in good shape is important. Your home may be the biggest investment you will ever make. According to the National Association of Home Builders, ...
It won’t be long before the crisp weather of fall is upon us. While the prospect of relaxing into a lazy Sunday schedule calls to many home owners weary from the routine of weekend lawn mowing, don’t sleep on home maintenance tasks that will see you through the winter. Exterior Tasks Maintain your gutters. Remove ...
If you’re like most of us, the “Great Recession” has probably had a major impact on both your spending habits and your lifestyle. However, when it comes to home remodeling, there’s at least one project that’s still affordable for nearly everyone: interior painting. If you plan to do it yourself, the Paint Quality Institute’s 10 ...
Does your home, patio, deck or yard need a new look? Maybe you’re hoping to improve your home’s efficiency and cutting back on energy costs by adding “green” materials. If this or anything else related to your home is what you’re looking for then the 2010 FALL REMODELING & DESIGN EXPO is the perfect place ...
According to the National Association of Home Builders here are just a few of the top ways to add value to your home. A Home Office Remodel – Home offices are becoming less of a luxury and more of a necessity, with more people telecommuting. The number of Americans that work from home is in ...
With much of the country experiencing high temperatures, helpfulgardener.com suggests: Watering Don’t forget to keep up with your watering, especially as the very hot weather sets in. If you don’t water enough, roots will stay near the surface, making them even more prone to the heat. An inch of water a week is a good ...
To make sure your home stays safe and healthy for you and your family, you should regularly check, clean and/or test a wide variety of interior and exterior systems and structures. According to the National Association of Home Builders the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has a Home Maintenance Checklist that you can ...
