By Cathy Hobbs From Tribune News Service Blacks, browns, oranges, reds and even yellows are often considered to be earth tones that can help add warmth and coziness to a space. Earth tones work especially well in spaces that are overly cool or large and cavernous, as they add a welcoming feeling. Looking for ways…
Don’t Fall for These Bathroom Renovation Ripoffs
By Hunter Boyce From The Atlanta Journal-Constitution As home prices start to drop around the country in response to rising mortgage rates, many home sellers are looking for ways to increase their property values. Renovating for a return on investment can be a tricky thing, however. Many big renovation projects never make their money back….
Typical Buyer Complaints About Real Estate Agents
Dear Monty: We have been looking to buy our first home. It is discouraging to listen to the media. The headlines are about high interest rates, little inventory, the bubble theory and high demand. Our issues are closer to home with the agents. With sales shrinking, one would think they would make more of an…
What Is ‘Tramp Art’?
Dear Helaine and Joe: I believe this frame to be tramp art, and while researching this 19-inch by 14-inch frame, I discovered that Helaine was a collector and appreciator of this kind of art. I live in Ontario, Quebec, Canada and found this piece in a secondhand store for $10. What can you tell me…
Throw It Together With Throw Blankets
By Katie Laughridge From Tribune News Service One of my favorite things to do on a quiet weekend morning is to slip downstairs and enjoy a cup of tea and a book before anyone else is awake, snuggled up in my favorite blanket (even if it is a rare occurrence). I’m a big fan of…
Weatherproof a Door
The Department of Energy tells us warm air leaking into your home during the summer and out of your home in the winter can waste a substantial portion of your energy dollars. You can save at least 10% on your energy bill by reducing those air leaks at the doors to your house, and it’s…
Paint Stained Wood
Some people would never paint stained wood; they’d rather remove the dark stain and refinish the wood naturally. But some dark wood molding was stained to cover up imperfect or mismatched grain, so it’s not worth refinishing. This dark stain is found in some older homes, which dates the rooms and their furnishings. One way…
11 Simple Tricks to Make Your Bathroom Feel Like a Spa
A trip to the spa leaves you feeling relaxed, pampered and rejuvenated. The experience centers on a serene environment that’s carefully designed to help you unwind and escape, and you can easily re-create that soothing atmosphere at home in your own bathroom. By incorporating calming elements, upgrading fixtures and minimizing clutter, you can achieve a…
Your Rust Removal Questions and My Answers
Every week, readers reach out to me with fantastic questions about a column of mine they have just read. Often they ask why I didn’t delve deeper into the topic. The answer is that newspapers — the medium for which my column is produced — have space limits that I need to adhere to. About…
The Pros and Cons of Pet Ownership
Getting a pet is a wonderful experience. If you don’t know what you are getting into, on the other hand, it can be a misadventure. There are pros and cons to pet ownership, but the pros will always outweigh the cons. Pet ownership is a wonderful minefield filled with surprises, for better and for worse….
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