How to Decorate Your Windows for Christmas

December 7, 2011

  Holiday decorating is one of the high points of the season. Creating a lovely blend of Christmas tradition and signature style dresses up your spaces in their holiday best, and windows, as the focal points of any room, present a plethora of decorating possibilities. They are the gateways that beckon visitors with visions of [...]

Read the full article →

Hand-Made Modern Furniture from Salvage

December 6, 2011

After Canadian actor-turned-designer Jody Racicot moved with his wife into an empty new home, he built her a dresser and promised her it would be better than anything they could afford to buy. To both of their surprise, he did just that, and suddenly the actor had a second career as a modern furniture designer. [...]

Read the full article →

Get Your Home Not Just Christmas Ready, Winter Ready

December 1, 2011

With the arrival of December and the holiday season, most of us are pulling out the Christmas decorations and getting ready to deck out every last corner in order to ensure that our houses are “holiday ready” in every way from the last touch of tinsel to the last dusting of powdered snow. But as [...]

Read the full article →

Energy Efficient Systems Lessen Impact on Environment and Wallet

November 29, 2011

Going green is all the rage these days, but there’s nothing new or trendy about spending less money on home energy needs. The latest home heating and air conditioning units, as well as water heaters, are more energy efficient than ever – helping soften the impact on the environment as well as a homeowner’s wallet.   “Energy [...]

Read the full article →

How To Repurpose Hanging Baskets

November 28, 2011

What do you do in the fall when your hanging baskets are spent? You can throw them out or compost the plant material and old potting soil, saving the pot for reuse next year. And while recycling the pot is great, repurposing it and getting another use out of it is my preferred choice. Last [...]

Read the full article →

Enhancing Your Outdoor Living Area – On a Budget

November 27, 2011

If you are like my family, you enjoy spending time outdoors, grilling, playing, gardening, and entertaining. Some months we are outside far more than in, so we make sure our yard is more than just a place to grow grass. Landscaping, social areas, and an area to cook and eat are all areas that you [...]

Read the full article →

So You Need to Hire a Plumber

November 24, 2011

Help! I Have a Plumbing Emergency. If you stumbled across this page because you are frantically looking for information while water is gushing into your home, there is one thing you should do before proceeding. Turn off the water! If you can, turn off the water directly to the offending fixture. Most toilets and sinks [...]

Read the full article →

Plants Around the Pond

November 22, 2011

You may have a lovely pond in your backyard, filled with fish and eye-catching water plants. However, sometimes we spend so much time on what goes into our water features that we may not give as much thought to what can be done with the perimeter. Here are some plants that will thrive at the [...]

Read the full article →

When to Prune Evergreens

November 21, 2011

Loosely defined, evergreens are trees and shrubs that do not lose their leaves all at once in the fall. They do shed leaves or needles, but do so a little at a time throughout the year. Pruning evergreen trees and shrubs accomplishes several things: It helps control size and shape of the plant. It helps [...]

Read the full article →

Give Your Fireplace a Makeover

November 17, 2011

Is your fireplace ugly, out of date or inefficient? Would you like to give it a makeover? Since a fireplace is a focal point in the room, you want it to be eye-catching and attractive. You can make dramatic changes with some of the new hearth products on the market today.  Traditionally when you would [...]

Read the full article →

Whole House Dehumidifier Fights Mold and Humidity

November 15, 2011

Humidity levels vary from place to place. Humidity levels at or around 50%, apart from being uncomfortable, lead to growth of fungus and mold in homes which increase health risks, such as asthma and allergies. Additionally, high humidity is an ideal breeding environment for moths, fleas, cockroaches and termites, all of which can wreak havoc [...]

Read the full article →

Winter Kitchen Gardening

November 14, 2011

Interesting activities for children’s garden clubs, cub scouts, brownies or your own children and grandchildren are often difficult to find during the winter months. But there are lots of planting projects right in your own kitchen! Children can learn about Mother Nature by planting the seeds they find in the fruits they have just eaten. [...]

Read the full article →

Christmas Shopping for Little Boys – A Simplified Survival Guide

November 12, 2011

Please keep in mind that this is a guide about shopping FOR kids, not WITH kids. Shopping with kids is a whole other topic that would require the expertise of someone who has had years of experience with many children and other wild animals. Like one of those super-nannies, or a lion tamer. Also, short [...]

Read the full article →

Preparing for Winter: Things to Consider Before Buying a Heater

November 10, 2011

This year’s winter has taken us all by surprise, many of us did not expect to see snow so soon into the winter, and this only points out that this winter’s effects can easily overcome those of last year. In that case, it’s always better to expect the worse, and be prepared. There are a [...]

Read the full article →

Contractor Consultants Are Expert Eyes for Owner Builders

November 8, 2011

If building a new home is in your future, how would you like to save thousands of dollars in the process?  You can when you become a builder owner and act as your own general contractor.  Your first reaction to that idea may be horror.  You may know nothing about the construction process. In fact, you [...]

Read the full article →

Home and Automobile Disaster Checklist – Being Prepared for all Emergencies

November 7, 2011

I’ve always thought we were well prepared for emergencies at home. I spend a lot of time finding the best ways to survive everything from scraped knees to natural disasters. Imagine my surprise when I found that I wasn’t quite as prepared as I thought I was when there was a massive city-wide power outage [...]

Read the full article →

Thinking About Doing a Home Remodel?

November 7, 2011

The magic of a home remodel is taking an old house that was originally built for somebody else and making it right for you. To accomplish this, you need to learn about how your home was originally built and clarify what will be involved in modifying it. Obviously, the less that’s required to make this [...]

Read the full article →

Passive Solar for Home Heat

November 3, 2011

Unfortunately, a whole generation of homeowners has grown up since passive solar construction was hailed, back in the 60s and 70s, as the solution to all our problems. Passive solar construction is easy, too easy. Americans seem to like complex, high-tech solutions to problems, embodying plenty of what salesmen call “bells and whistles. There are [...]

Read the full article →

Wildcat Haven Is Sanctuary for Exotic Cat Animal Rescue

November 1, 2011

Some of the most beautiful creatures in the world are exotic cats, animals like cougars, bobcats, servals and lynx.  These creatures are strong, graceful and majestic and their kittens are absolutely adorable.  Because of their beauty, there are many people who believe a wild cat would make a unique pet.  It would be like owning [...]

Read the full article →

The Accessible Bathroom Design

October 31, 2011

An accessible bathroom design can make life much easier for some people. The classic bathroom layout creates barriers for many people, especially those who are disabled, ill, injured, elderly, or very young. The goal of universal design is to make the bathroom usable by anyone. Even if no one in your family currently requires special [...]

Read the full article →

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →