How to get a custom closet on a do-it-yourself budget

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 13:02:19 -0400

Both fashion and budget-conscious Americans alike are taking better care of their clothing and other possessions, starting with how they store them. But if you haven't been reading today's most popular home and style magazines, sneaking a peak inside your neighbor's closets, or house-hunting lately, you might not have noticed: Closets have evolved from clumsy and non-functional to downright fabulous.

Decorate your dorm room to express yourself

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 12:54:56 -0400

Freshmen heading off to college don't have to over-think decorating dorm rooms. Save all that mental energy for your studies. Creating inexpensive and interesting living spaces is easier than your high school finals.

David Yates

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 12:36:06 -0400

David has been in the homebuilding/ real estate industry since 1991. He has been a licensed Realtor and a registered home builder, and was named a Certified Graduate Builder in 1997 and a Certified Sales Professional in 1993 by the National Association of Home Builders.

“Robby” Myer

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 12:26:07 -0400

Robby literally grew up in the building industry as the son of the owner of a Northern California chain of lumberyards, Piedmont Lumber. Robby worked for Piedmont for 23 years before a tragic fire destroyed his location and showroom. Ever ambitious, Robby purchased the surviving door shop operation away from his father’s company and decided the time was right for him to finally take on the industry himself. Today Robby owns and operates Craftsman Collective Inc., a custom woodworking operation specializing in building, finishing, and installation of residential doors, windows, millwork, and mantels.

Ian McCartt

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 12:14:43 -0400

Ian McCartt, a San Francisco Bay Area native and a carpenter for HGTV, discovered his passion for carpentry while working for a contractor as a teenager. Ian worked as a wild land firefighter throughout his college years pursuing an education in construction management before turning to construction full-time. Ian is a licensed general contractor and is also a Build it Green-certified green contractor. Ian has appeared as a carpenter on several HGTV programs, including Color Splash, Landscape Smart and 100 Sizzling Summer Ideas.

Gadgets for a healthier home and family

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:01:00 -0500

From MP3 players to e-books, technology is an integral part of the modern home. However, when we think of technology and how we use it on a daily basis, entertainment is top of mind, not health and wellness. As a doctor and a mom, Jennifer Trachtenberg, Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and pediatrician at The Mount Sinai Medical Center, recommends four household gadgets that will help make for a healthier home and family.

Tips for growing easy care orchids

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 20:54:19 -0500

(ARA) – Think orchids are just for those with green thumbs and garden aprons filled with gadgets and secret instructions? Think again. Now there are no-fear orchids for everyone that will reward you with fabulous blooms for months on end. “Orchids are really easy to grow,” says Justin W. Hancock, editor of Better Homes & [...]

Stop home energy dollars from leaking out your walls

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 20:50:43 -0500

As home heating and cooling costs soar, your energy dollars literally might be going out the window - and the walls. Small and not-so-small air leaks through covered walls, floors, ceilings and normal openings such as windows and doors can add up to big losses. While retrofitting older homes with weather stripping, insulation and caulk helps seal air leaks, for new homes and additions, building tight walls can prevent air from escaping.

Opening the window to federal remodeling tax credits

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 20:45:47 -0500

As warm weather approaches and the tax credit for energy efficient replacement windows is in full swing, now is the perfect time to consider upgrading your home with new windows to help save on cooling costs in those hot summer months, and to also save on heating costs when winter rolls around again. The tax credit for energy efficient replacement windows and doors, originally introduced in 2009 as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, is set to expire at the end of 2010, which makes this year the best time for homeowners to replace their windows and upgrade the look and feel of their home.

Slim tile: Eco-friendly solutions for updating your kitchen and bath

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 20:40:57 -0500

The bathroom and the kitchen - are there any other rooms that see more traffic? Whether it's battling family members for mirror space on busy mornings or milling around the stove as dinner cooks, they are the two rooms that are guaranteed to get the most use. Naturally they should be functional and good-looking, but more and more, people are demanding that these high-traffic spaces also be environmentally friendly.