You've probably never hung a door or shingled a roof. That’s why problems are scary. We share concepts, terminology so you can make smart decisions about your home ... with confidence!
How we live at home is changing. More people are working at home, there's home schooling and we’re integrating indoor & outdoor spaces as we spend more time at home. Get ideas for your home.
With Pinterest, Houzz and so many shows about home improvements, it's natural to have a wish list. We share our ideas, your homeowner stories and support you in achieving your dreams.
Your home is a huge investment when you buy it, plus monthly operating costs like utility bills. We help you spend less, get more value & build homeowner equity (like a savings account).
Plywood is a well known building material. It was once used extensively in new home construction as sheathing on the exterior of house walls, the roof deck and sub-flooring. Today oriented strand board (OSB) has replaced plywood in most of these places to lower construction costs. And now cross laminated timber or super plywood [Learn More…]
Several years ago I did extensive research on how to buy a refrigerator. I wrote several articles to share what I learned with savvy homeowners. Imagine my surprise when I recently learned I missed a very important decision factor. I learned that advertised refrigerator sizes aren't what you think! [Learn More…]
We work hard all week so it's not surprising that more homeowners are looking for solutions that reduce the amount of time needed to maintain their homes. When you combine this goal with plans for home improvements, using low maintenance building materials makes a lot of sense. You might also benefit from less time needed to [Learn More…]
When kitchen renovations cost $20,000 or more, you might think you’re stuck with an outdated, inefficient or simply boring space forever. That simply isn't true as this article demonstrates by outlining the various cost items for any kitchen remodel. Budget kitchen renovations aren't new and [Go Explore…]
Forget the man cave, a woman cave (or she shed) is what you want. And there’s a big difference. Where the typical man cave is filled with manly things, a woman cave is filled with whatever makes you happy. It doesn't even have to be in the basement. If you love all things pink and fluffy, that’s great. But feminine doesn’t mean frilly; there are many ways to create a woman cave [Go Explore…]
Downsizing from our Victorian house in Portsmouth, NH to a condo near the ocean, meant coming up with a new furniture strategy. The master bedroom was a lot smaller so we explored lots of floor plans [Go Explore…]
Have you tried to buy white paint and gotten confused because there are 100s of white paints? With many types of paint finishes, picking the right finish or sheen is just as difficult.And with no industry standard for paint sheens, it's no wonder most homeowners are confused.
One company's eggshell can be another company's satin, matte or low gloss [Start Dreaming …]
After celebrating the year end holidays, it's not unusual for our homes to feel cluttered. So it's no surprise that January is national organizing month with lots of tips to help you declutter your home. And if you realize that clutter contributes to stress, you know but might not want to admit [Start Dreaming …]
Buying paint is easy, but you've got to figure out how much paint to buy. You have to know the condition of the walls, ceiling and/or trim you'll be painting, and whether you need a coat of primer first. You also want to include enough paint for touch-ups later on. This is true whether you're hiring a professional painter or plan to do-it-yourself. [Start Dreaming …]
Have you seen windmills in Holland? Or driven past wind farms with hundreds of modern windmills? They show how yesterday's windmills have evolved to capture the wind, sunshine and more. Because sustainable energy means no matter how much we use, there's just as much energy tomorrow. So let's look at how [Save More…]
Buying a house used to be simple. Most realtors told you it's all about location, location, location and for many years this was true. That's because “… You can buy the right home in the wrong location. You can change the structure, remodel it or alter the home's layout but, ordinarily, you cannot move it. It's attached to the land,” according to TheBalance.com … [Save More…]
Springtime. It’s the season for airing out the house, washing windows, scrubbing floors and all-around general cleaning to clear off the last bits of winter. But home maintenance means more than cleaning the inside of your home. [Save More…]
