Let’s talk about wallpaper, which to some people, is akin to a dirty word. You either love it or you hate it. Whether or not you are a fan, wallpaper is technically decorative embellishment although it has qualities that can appear almost architectural. While there are many decorative things besides paint you can apply to…
This is embarrassing to admit, but cleaning is my hobby. Yes, you read that right, I love to clean. This wasn’t always the case – my mother was an indifferent housekeeper. We rented, didn’t own, and for some reason she thought this gave her a free pass to not really keep up with it. One…
I am a person willing to tackle small home improvement jobs around the house as long as it involves no tools beyond a hammer or a paintbrush. My Number One Rule: I definitely draw the line at taking on anything electrical out of what I consider a not-unreasonable fear of electrocution or electrocuting anyone else.
So much of home remodeling is about meeting changing needs. Is your starter home feeling too small, or have the kids flown the coop, or are you thinking about selling? Or maybe the kitchen feels dated or you’d prefer a walk-in shower instead of a tub. Other important considerations in moving forward with remodeling are…
I have dogs. I’ve always had dogs. Right now, I just have one. There was a period of my adult life when my family had three dogs, two cats, and a pony. Admittedly, the pony did not live with us inside the house. Nevertheless, its hair was a regular factor to be dealt with. Over…
As a dedicated reader of bath design magazines (temptingly displayed by the check-out of my usual grocery store, I can’t resist), I can easily rattle off at any time the latest news in bath trends. The current experts are touting larger-than-life vanities, strategic mirror placement (to maximize reflection, place your mirrors near a window or…
I had a friend (she’s since moved to Florida) who lived in a beautiful, three story, narrow antique house in a historic hamlet.The house, which is well over a hundred years old, had been renovated a few times, but it was small and some of the ceilings were a bit low, and it was on…
I always say life happens in the kitchen. It’s where all the important stuff happens. It’s where big announcements are made, where we’ve laughed and cried. It’s where the dog crates live and where kids do their homework. Besides a place to prepare and eat food, in most homes, the kitchen is the true gathering…
I know I’m not alone when I say the prospect of hosting the holidays is a little anxiety-producing. Don’t get me wrong, I’m no Scrooge and I love having friends and family over if only to remind me how lucky we are, and that I should count my blessings. But every year, and it is…
When we moved into our first house as a married couple, I thought everything was perfect. Prior to completing our purchase, we had a full home inspection and an hour before the actual closing we did a walk through. Everything seemed great. So when a skylight dripped rain onto the hardwood floor during a heavy…