Category: HOME

Build a stone wall

You can’t add a more enduring landscape feature to a home than a stone wall, which you’ll see dotting the countryside of many homes in rural areas. A rugged stone wall creates a natural material surrounding property that’s appealing whether it’s a modest cottage or a handsome country estate, often becoming the focal point of…


Redwood Is a Good, Insect-Resistant Material for Decks

Dear James: My kids are getting older, and a backyard deck would be great. I am on a limited budget and want to build it myself but have no idea where to start. Any tips? — Maria S. Dear Maria: The addition of a deck, usually adjacent to a sliding glass door, is one of…


5 Nontoxic Methods for Killing Weeds That Really Work

Weeds are everywhere — lawns, parks, roadsides, driveways, my garden, even busting their way through asphalt and cracks in sidewalks. Weeds thrive without fertilizer, love arid conditions and require no care or attention. If you don’t want weeds to take over your garden, yard or neighborhood, you need a reliable and inexpensive way to take…


Tune up a Lawn Tractor

A riding lawn tractor is the ultimate way to cut, trim and manicure a large lawn; and to keep it working safely and at peak performance it requires regular maintenance. If you’re a grease monkey and enjoy working on engines and machinery, you can keep a lawn tractor in good running order. If not, get…


Revive a Lawn

Is your grass ridden with patchy clumps of weeds, unsightly bare spots or areas of hard, compacted soil? If the answer is yes, your lawn needs a makeover, and some TLC to restore it to lush green turf. It won’t be a weekend wonder, because your grass requires continued attention, but in one growing season you’ll be…


Artist and Her Husband Ditch ‘Noisy City Life’ for Self-Renovated Cozy Home in the Woods

Tired of the “noisy city life,” a Kazakhstan-born artist and her Russian-born husband ditched their urban digs in favor of a quiet home in the middle of nature. The now beautiful, cozy home inspires the couple to live in harmony with the world around them. Both 32, freelance artist and content creator Katharina Kölln and…


Plant Ground Cover

A lush ground cover can take over a garden; but when kept in control, the carpet of color provides a backdrop for all your plantings, allowing vibrant flowers and bushes to take center stage. Use ground cover on a terrace or steep slope or in an enclosed courtyard wherever you want to create a well-tended…


Design Recipes: Make Your Child’s Room More Fun, Festive With These 10 Tips

By Cathy Hobbs From Tribune News Service Children’s rooms by their very nature are meant to be bright, colorful and fun. Looking for ways to bring creativity into a children’s bedroom space? Here are some top tips. 1. Bedding. Bedding is a prime decor element and a key opportunity to infuse color prints and patterns….


Install a Whole House Fan

To lower the use and expense of air conditioning a home in the dog days of summer, consider installing a whole house fan to cool it down. The fan, usually installed on the second floor in the ceiling, is designed to pull air through open windows and doors and exhaust it out through the attic…


Replace a Bathroom Faucet

The trend in remodeling continues, reports the recent Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) from Harvard’s Remodeling Futures Program. Any upgrade even replacing a bathroom faucet won’t go unnoticed if you decide to sell your home, so don’t hesitate to make the upgrade and enjoy using it. It’s not the largest feature in a bathroom,…