My father was a talented carpenter and used to make jokes about how he could easily spend all of his pocket money in the hardware store and lumberyard. In their day, he and my mother collaborated on many do-it-yourself projects and remodels. In the home in which I did most of my growing up, a large suburban brick outside of Chicago, my father did a full basement remodel that still amazes me when I remember it. He divided the huge, cement floored and walled basement into two rooms – the larger... Read Full Story

If someone gave me $5,000 and said it was for remodeling projects, what would I do? First of all, I would hire a contractor. I would hire a team of two who had experience and expertise in a wide range of home remodels and home improvements. I would hire contractors that I like and would feel comfortable having in my home – and who would be totally integral, as far as meeting commitments to show up at agreed-upon times for the number of hours specified. (more…) Read Full Story

According to Doug Waters, Operations Manager for The Loftcrafters, Inc., a loft-type addition is the most economical way to add space to any home, large or small. “Even in these tough economic times,” he says, “we can make it affordable!” Doug says additions can even make your existing HVAC system more energy efficient. This is because Loftcrafters insulates the new floor and installs energy-efficient, dual-paned windows with low-E coating. While some companies perform more expensive “roof... Read Full Story

With the new school season in full gear, the buzz at a recent gathering of gardeners that I attended was all about the wonderful climbing vines at various colleges. Several of the attendees had recently taken children to college for the fall semester, and the ivy-covered walls of venerable brick college buildings launched a lively discussion about the beauty and charm of vine-covered walls. Climbing vines have graced the exteriors of buildings for centuries, and are especially popular on... Read Full Story

Most every school-age child has heard of the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Recycling is to take a product or material at the end of its usefulness and turning it into a usable raw material to make another product. That is exactly what GreenFiber of Charlotte, NC has successfully done. In 2000, two rival companies in the wood products industry came together in an earth-friendly joint venture that has the capacity to turn what was once an environmentally friendly specialty product... Read Full Story

I was visiting a friend the other day, sitting in her newly expanded kitchen. She and her husband were proudly showing off their remodel – they had torn down the walls of the kitchen, creating a great room of kitchen, dining, and living rooms. We gathered around the big, new kitchen island, chatting while my friend prepared lunch. She said her grown children were aghast that she hadn’t replaced the appliances – the range, fridge, and dishwasher were the original avocado green ones that were... Read Full Story

If you are like me, you will not get rid of a single book you have; you will probably read it again or need the information in it. You’ve likely had to ask yourself numerous times, “Where in the world will I put all my books?” If space is a problem, then built-in bookshelves make perfect sense. Here are some creative ideas for locations – some pretty conventional and some, well, they just might fit your twist of imagination and decor style! Read Full Story

There is nothing worse than opening the curtains to let the bright morning rays of sunlight into your living room, only to see a dirty window. If you live in an area that has endured smoke and ash like the Northwest has, you know what I’m talking about. So how do you get those windows clean and achieve that crystal-clear view? Getting perfectly clean windows really depends on the right tools and techniques of window cleaning, and that means, doing it the way the pros do it. Most of us want to... Read Full Story

Fire pits have been a part of life for human beings in every part of the world. Ancient humans gathered around fire pits for survival: for warmth, for cooking, and light. In modern days, fire pits are used for recreational cooking and for creating a nighttime atmosphere of comfort and camaraderie. As global conditions change and concerns about wildfires due to drought and unmanaged recreational fires grows in public awareness, the use of fire pits starts with the need for awareness of safety... Read Full Story

With the growing value of trees from an ecological perspective and the value they generally add to a property’s worth, tree removal might seem like an ill-advised choice. Although it may be a wise rule of thumb to think in terms of saving a tree rather than removing it, sometimes a tree needs special attention – and, occasionally, in a major way. For example, what if an aged tree is leaning dangerously close to your house? Or what if an ancient hedge of evergreen trees, planted when your... Read Full Story