| Tips for a Safe Summer Season on Your Deck |
5/3/2007 8:11:30 AM |
| Gas prices are on the rise again, the number of people traveling is down and families are choosing to spend more time at home enjoying their decks. And with so many accessories available that make the yard an oasis -- from solar fountains and fire pit tables to stainless gas grills -- the deck extends the living space and creates an at-home vacation spot. |
| Ten Easy Steps for Reconditioning Your Fence or Deck |
5/3/2007 8:11:20 AM |
| As the weather gets warmer, we begin to spend more time outdoors. The best part of having a yard is enjoying it during these months, but when items in your yard such as your deck and fence look worn and drab, it takes away from the pleasure. |
| Protect Your Hands Before Digging in the Dirt |
5/3/2007 8:11:08 AM |
| Now that winter has faded away and warmer temperatures have finally arrived, one of America's favorite pastimes is once again taking center stage. |
| Designing High-Tech, High-Style Bathrooms |
5/3/2007 8:10:58 AM |
| Gadgetry and good design are inseparable today. Every room in the house can be smart, stylish and comfortable -- even the bathroom, which is evolving from a functional space into a personal spa. |
| Improve the Curb Appeal of Your Home with Outdoor Lighting |
5/3/2007 8:10:46 AM |
| Every year, as spring arrives, homeowners busy themselves with an array of home improvement projects. Beautiful trees, gardens and landscaping are once again a source of enjoyment and home beautification. But according to the lighting experts of Nite Time Decor, a little outdoor lighting can increase the value of the investments these homeowners make in their landscaping. |
| How to Better Protect Your Home and Family from Fire |
5/3/2007 8:10:36 AM |
| More than 3,000 American lives are lost each year in home fires. Many of those deaths could have been easily prevented. The use of a smoke alarm and fire sprinkler system together reduces the risk of death in a home fire by more than 80 percent. |
| Classic Outdoor Living Made Easy |
5/3/2007 8:10:25 AM |
| If you're thinking about making some home improvements this year, consider increasing the value of your home with the addition of a deck. A deck can give you more living space and bring the feeling of the great outdoors right to your back yard. |
| It's Not Your Father's Garage Door |
5/3/2007 8:10:14 AM |
| In the "Leave it to Beaver" era, garage doors were little more than heavy slabs of wood that sealed your garage shut from the elements. White, heavy and mostly flat. Little had changed to garage doors by the time the "Brady Bunch" arrived in the 1970s or even the "Cosby" generation years later. |
| Wood Floors and Wine Country: A Natural Pair |
5/3/2007 8:10:04 AM |
| When visiting wineries or traveling in wine country, there is definitely an organic feeling that is evident in all aspects of the region. From the vines in the fields, to the barns where the wine is made, to the tasting house where it is sold, the historical presence is unmistakable and magnified through organic materials such as wood. |
| Five Quick Fixes That Improve Curb Appeal for Under $500 |
5/3/2007 8:09:53 AM |
| It's a known fact: Good-looking, well-maintained homes sell faster (and command a higher price) than houses that appear worn down and tired. In today's attractive roller coaster real-estate market enhancing curb appeal -- the first impression of a house as seen from the street -- can mean the difference between attracting serious buyers and resulting in a sale, or having the property languish for months as unsold. |
| Transforming Your Old Home into Your Dream Home |
4/9/2007 8:21:55 AM |
| It wasn't uncommon a few years ago to upgrade your home by simply visiting your local realtor to find out what bigger and better homes were available in the area. |
| How to Handle a Home Remodel |
4/9/2007 8:21:44 AM |
| Whoever coined the phrase "a man's home is his castle" probably never imagined how close to true that phrase would become in modern home building. "More" seems to be the operative word in new home design these days, from more living space and rooms to increased upgrades, bells and whistles. |
| Kitchen Updates Worth Every Penny |
4/9/2007 8:21:34 AM |
| In today's buyer's market many homeowners are hesitant to put the "for sale" sign in the front yard -- even if they are not happy with their current home. Instead, wise homeowners are sinking their dollars into remodeling -- to increase their homes' values and their own enjoyment. |
| Boosting Your Home's Bottom Line: Big Ideas for Making a Good First Impression |
4/9/2007 8:21:23 AM |
| A home's exterior makes or breaks the first impression when prospective buyers see your home initially. If you're looking to add value to your home without spending a lot of money, consider enhancing its curb appeal with a new front door. A spruced-up entryway can add as much as $24,000 to a home's perceived value, according to research commissioned by Therma-Tru Doors. |
| For Seasonal Allergy Relief, Take Steps to Ensure Clean Indoor Air |
4/9/2007 8:21:12 AM |
| This time of year, the flowers and trees are in bloom and a sweet fragrance wafts through the windows. But there's more than fragrance in the air -- the average home has 72 trillion allergens floating around inside. |
| A Buyer's Market and Remodeling Wave Benefits Everyone |
4/9/2007 8:21:02 AM |
| The advantage typically tilts toward those buying homes in today's housing market. Interest rates are low and housing inventories are up. But the tricky part for everyone is that buyers are often also the sellers and typically depend on selling their existing home to buy a new one. |
| Update and Organize Your Entertainment Center |
4/9/2007 8:20:51 AM |
| It's time to clear the clutter and clean house now that spring has made its very welcome reappearance. Think beyond the closets and kitchen and take a look at your entertainment center, already in dire need of a facelift, to determine what can be discarded and what needs a serious upgrade. |
| Why You Should Shop Online for Your Next Home Improvement Project |
4/9/2007 8:20:41 AM |
| The last time you went into a store seeking help for a home improvement project, what kind of experience did you have? If it was anything like what happened to Doug and Diana Johnson of Battle Lake, Minn., it wasn't good. |
| Kitchen Couture -- High Style Is the Latest Trend for Upscale Kitchens |
4/9/2007 8:20:30 AM |
| Stylish extras give your guests the impression they have stepped into a gourmet kitchen, even if you're not a gourmet chef. Create a culinary masterpiece with the latest upscale kitchen products that not only cater to your sense of style, but to your sense of taste as well. |
| How to Save Money While Tackling Your "Honey-do" List |
4/9/2007 8:20:20 AM |
| The warmer temperatures outside signal more than just a change of season. Do-it-yourselfers everywhere are itching to get started on their "Honey-do" lists. The lawn needs aerating, the front walk needs pressure washing, the gutters need cleaning, those cracked tiles in the foyer need replacing and the list goes on. |
| Personal Finance: Shop for Credit Card Rewards Program That Offers Best Pay Back |
4/9/2007 8:20:09 AM |
| Rewards credit card programs have enjoyed an unheard level of popularity over the past few years. The tide may be turning though as the level of frustration with many of the most popular programs, such as airline miles, is growing. |
| Bring the Spa Experience into Your Home |
4/9/2007 8:19:58 AM |
| Many people enjoy the therapeutic benefits of visiting a spa regularly, but usually it comes with a hefty price tag. A trend with homeowners recently is to bring the spa experience into their lives through their own home. |
| Window, Roof Window, and Skylight Selection Basics |
4/9/2007 8:19:47 AM |
| Homeowners are sometimes reluctant to cut a hole in a perfectly good roof. They don't question cutting dozens of holes in the walls for windows and doors, and more holes in the roof for chimneys, ventilation fans or plumbing vent pipes. So what's so scary about a hole for a skylight? |
| Things are Looking Up! The Ceiling's Role in Your Room's Decor |
4/9/2007 8:19:36 AM |
| It's hanging over your head every day -- a bland, lackluster ceiling. The ceiling is often one of the most overlooked areas of a room when it comes to interior decorating. Yet if you look beyond the popcorn ceiling and water stains, you may find your ceiling can be an outlet for your most inspired creativity. |
| VSI Certified Installers Bring Out the Best in Your Home |
4/9/2007 8:19:26 AM |
| If you're thinking about a makeover for your home this spring, vinyl siding offers a valuable investment for your new exterior. According to "Remodeling" magazine, homeowners who re-side their homes with vinyl typically recover more than 95 percent of the cost when selling their homes. |
