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Reprinted from NAHB.org with permission of the National Association of Home Builders®. The Christmas tree is the centerpiece of holiday memories for many people. Whether your family’s trees tend to be Norman Rockwell-like perfect, or more like the sad, spindly Charlie Brown variety, here are some things you should know to ensure you get the tree you want, and [...]
By Jeanne Huber, who is the author of 10 books about home improvement. She writes a weekly column about home care for the Washington Post. Your busy kitchen can be the most accident-prone place in the house. Here's how to child-proof your home, starting with the most essential and simplest steps. Child-proofing your kitchen takes constant [...]
Here are 7 house pick-me-ups that take about as much time as brewing a pot of coffee and fit your schedule whenever you have a few extra minutes. 1. Switch the plates. Upgrade your drab, plastic switch plates with snazzy covers that match or accent your décor. Even the most expensive brass switch plates cost less than $20 each. Or, spend a buck for a plastic plate and decorate it yourself. Use craft paint, or cover the plate with decorative paper. You also can switch outlet covers, but don’t get too fancy. Outlet covers should blend with the wall.
By John Riha, who has written seven books on home improvement and hundreds of articles on home-related topics. He’s been a residential builder, the editorial director of the Black & Decker Home Improvement Library, and the executive editor of Better Homes and Gardens magazine. Here’s everything you need to know about stamping concrete patios, including benefits, [...]
By Dona DeZube,  who has been writing about real estate for more than two decades. She lives in a suburban Baltimore Midcentury modest home on a 3-acre lot shared with possums, raccoons, foxes, a herd of deer, and her blue-tick hound. Stuck in an ARM and wish you could refinance into a fixed-rate mortgage? Here are 4 [...]
A growing trend is 'aging in place' whereby seniors are opting to stay in their own home rather than move into an assisted living facility. The CDC defines aging in place as, "The ability to live in one's own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level." More and [...]
Is your home ready for holiday visits from friends and family? Here’s how to prepare for the invasion. I'm lucky and have a guest suite always ready for holiday guests. But even with a dedicated space, preparing my home for the annual onslaught of friends and family takes time and forethought. Some preparations for holiday guests take only a few minutes; some take a lot longer. My advice: Start preparing your home for the holidays now. [...] Continue reading on our blog.
By: Courtney Craig Reprinted from HouseLogic.com with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Wasting energy on Thanksgiving? Don’t be a turkey. A few days before Thanksgiving Install a dimmer switch for the dining room chandelier. Every time you dim a bulb’s brightness by 10%, you’ll double the bulb’s lifespan. Most CFLs don’t work with dimmers, [...]
Have you been thinking about finishing your basement into living space for a long time? Fall is a perfect time to get ideas and plan. Even if it’s currently cold concrete crammed with boxes of off-season items, the lowest floor of your home probably has loads of potential. Basement Home Theater It never [...]
By Lisa Kaplan Gordon, who is an avid gardener, a member of the Fairfax County Master Gardeners Association, and a builder of luxury homes in McLean, Va. She’s been a Homes editor for Gannett News Service and has reviewed home improvement products for AOL Just for fun, take an inventory of all the leaf removal tools [...]
