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Eat-In Kitchens Keep Meals and Families Together
The eat-in kitchen, once a standard fixture in many homes, is back in vogue. The comfort and nostalgia of the eat-in kitchen is showing up in new homes and renovations. The eat-in kitchen harkens back to family meals on the table by 6 p.m. and all things warm and homey. But beyond the eat-in kitchen's sentimental appeal is its practicality
Paint Now Following Color Trends for 2012
Color experts have been busily working on new palettes, so shy not follow their lead?
Like a burst of vitamin C for your walls, it's hard not to notice orange. Like its equally intense cousin, red, orange can easily overwhelm a room, but the fall beckons for this color
Easy Design Ideas Create Intimate and Romantic Dining Room
A few tweaks and changes can turn your dining room into a chic and elegant spot that will feel indulgently opulent for far less than a nice meal out
Sensual Fall Bedroom Fixes Emphasize Easy Opulence
With the arrival of fall and dropping temperatures, we naturally turn toward more sumptuous surroundings that beckon us to snuggle up. Making a few quick changes can transition your bedroom from summer to fall with the focus on opulence and sensuous comfort
Introducing Privacy to Open Concept Living
While beautiful, the openness can morph into overexposure and a discomforting lack of privacy. This fishbowl effect can make living in an open concept home uncomfortable. The key is to balance the open concept with our need for privacy and security
White Kitchen Redux Has Balanced and Timeless Appeal
Whether in a farmhouse, contemporary, or traditional style, the white kitchen has an elegance and appeal that defies time
If you have a yen for a new look in your living room, you'll be glad that know that if you've got $50 and a little time you can refresh your look
Without a doubt, the kitchen is the most popular room in my house. From meal prep to mealtime, homework to crafts, it's the center of our family life -- and the ultimate candidate for an eco-makeover
10 Great 'Green' Home Improvements
If you're planning on going green, you had better get moving. Tax incentives expire at the end of 2011. To assist consumers who are considering making these upgrades, a number of experts have compiled this list of 10 great 'green' home improvements for 2011
Top 10 Interior Decorating Mistakes
Everyone makes mistakes, and that old saw is never truer than when it comes to decorating our homes. Because trends come and go, each brings with it a new set of decorating mistakes. Here are some of the trends that need to be revised or done away with altogether
Will This Home Renovation Pay Off?
Here's the dirty little secret about home renovations: Most of them don't pay off. For anyone trying to decide whether to take on a home renovation, these five tips can help
9 Reasons to Buy a Newly Built Home
To help consumers better understand the advantages of new home buying, a handful of experts compiled the following list of nine reasons to choose a new home over a resale
Banish Bathroom Counter Clutter With Clever Storage
Too often a glamour bath, while great to look at, is often woefully short on storage space. Here are some storage tips to help corral the clutter and make your bathroom smashing again
Cooking Ranges: Should You Go Pro?
There's no doubt that cooking has been elevated from drudgery to art form. We've finally outgrown the boxed spaghetti kits and graduated to imported pasta and truffle oils. Now, is it time for your kitchen range to make the step up, too? Many cooks face this dilemma today.
Still Plenty to Do in the Garden to Get Ready for Winter
As fall marches on, and mild conditions give way to cooler temperatures, more ample rain and gusty winds, now is the time to get going on your garden to-do list before it becomes less comfortable to work outdoors
Late-Blooming Camellias and Chrysanthemums Keep Colors of Autumn Interesting
The colors of autumn are more often associated with falling leaves than they are with colorful blooms. Many fall-blooming plants are triggered into flower when days shorten and temperatures begin to cool
Out With the Summer Bulbs and in With the Spring
On a blazing October day, gardening may be the last thing on your mind. The spring blooming bulbs I ordered have arrived in the mail, and planting them on a nice day makes the job a lot more pleasurable
Structure Is the Key to a Successful Garden
Walls, hedges, arbors, walkways, patios and other conspicuous elements can help structure a garden and transform the spaces within it
Interesting Foliage and Fall Blooms Make These Perennials Winners
There was a time in my early gardening career when the fall season made me melancholy. Over the years, I have learned to include a few plants in my garden that provide something to look at as the rest of the garden fades from sight until spring
Late-Season Bloomers Keep the Garden Party Going
Fall is upon us, and for most of us this means the gardening season is beginning to wind down. But by no means write off the possibility of beautiful blooms. Fortunately, there are a few plants that wait until fall to look their best -- and without them my garden would look tired at this time of year
Fall Is for Planting and Getting Good Deals at the Nursery
Several years ago the nursery industry came up with a slogan, 'Fall is for planting.' The objectives were to help educate gardeners and to extend the selling season. The advice is sound and for several reasons
Dog Days of August: Time to Think of Planting for Fall
For many gardeners, August is a tough time. Temperatures usually hit an annual high, rain is infrequent, and daylight begins to shorten. While some may throw in the towel (or trowel, as it were), those of us who have been at it for a while know that this is the time to start sowing seeds for cool-weather crops
Blueberries From Your Own Backyard
Nothing beats the taste of berries harvested right from bushes in your own back yard. The bushes are easy to grow and require very little work for the amount of fruit they produce
Agapanthus: A Beautiful Option for Busy Gardeners
I look for flowering plants that give a lot of bang for the buck but don't require all the deadheading. One of my favorites is agapanthus. These South African natives produce large umbels of beautiful funnel-shaped flowers atop tall sturdy stems
Don't Let Summer Heat Deter You from Gardening
Gardening during the heat of summer can be grueling, but it needn't be. With a little common sense and some planning, midsummer gardening can be easy on you while giving your garden the attention it continues to need.
Gardening in small spaces is a trend that has taken hold with apartment dwellers, condo owners, and those who either don't have enough space for a large garden or the need for one. Here are several options for small space gardens, and some don't even require ground to plant in
Top 10 Cleaning Myths You Need to Know
Everyone wants a clean house and that light, bright, sanitized feeling you get from commercials for household cleaners. But is all that cleaning realistic - or necessary? Sometimes it is and sometimes it's actually harmful
Are Net-Zero Energy Houses on the Horizon?
With more energy-conscious consumers and changing building codes in mind, an increasing number of builders are integrating more energy-efficient designs into new constructions.
You don't need to spend thousands to make your home more marketable and attractive. Experts say some of the best ways to boost your home's appeal are practically free. Here are inexpensive ways to increase your home's value and appeal
How to Revive Your Home in a Weekend
In just 48 hours, you can give your house an updated look and refresh its energy and vitality - along with your own.
Common Sources of Odor and How to Eliminate the Smell
Odor is a sensitive issue -- a home's equivalent of bad breath. But there's something more worrisome than the social implications of a smelly house. If you have frequent headaches or breathing problems, the odor could be the cause. Pervasive odors, especially from mold, can quickly morph from merely bothersome to dangerous
Tips To Help Keep Your Home Cool This Summer
There are days -- or even months, depending on where you live -- when the whole house seems to bake. And while it's fun to talk about ways to make your home look beachy and bright during the summer months, sometimes bringing down the temperature indoors will do the most to make the house more inviting
Accessorize Your Home Like a Pro
Model home decorators and furniture store owners know this fact: Accessories make the room. It's the finishing touch that finalizes the look, much like that sprinkling of parsley on a plate at a restaurant. Here are some rules and secrets to help you accessorize with style
A Personal Gym Brings Your Workout Home
For those who prefer not to exercise outdoors or in a public fitness center where they must share equipment, a home gym makes a lot of sense. Whether you work out in a corner or devote an entire room to exercise, you can create the perfect setting to keep you motivated to succeed
Buying a sofa can be a big investment, so before you head out, consider these tips so you not only get a bargain, but a good buy, too
Tips for Holding a Successful Garage Sale
Want to make a few bucks and get rid of your household clutter at the same time? It may be time for a garage sale. Here's what you need to do to get the most cash from your clutter
Open Shelves: Designer Trend or Decorating Disaster?
Trends rise and fall, and among those who love a particular style, there are equally as many people who hate it. Open shelves are making their way back into decorating magazines but are they right for your home?
Make Dad's Day With a Customized Home Bar
If Dad likes to come home and stir, pour, or uncork a cold drink, a customized bar would make a terrific Father's Day gift
Tweak Your Home Decor for Summer
It's time to give your home a warm-weather makeover too. Doing this is easier and less expensive than you may think
A Rose Is a Rose Is an Heirloom Rose
Would a rose by any other name smell as sweet? Well, if the rose has been named after you, you might not think so. I have a friend who is an accomplished rose grower in Santa Barbara, Calif. She grows roses better than anyone I know, and is very discerning about which plants she includes in her collection
Watering the lawn, running in the sprinkler, lazy days by the pool -- each of these summer activities proves that water is a central part of warm-weather fun. So how do you cut back on water use -- without cutting back on the fun? Fortunately, hope is not lost! Here's easy tips to conserve water -- and save some cash -- this summer
Stars of the Garden Can Be Leafy Rather Than Blooming
Plants grown for their foliage don't require nearly the amount of maintenance that plants grown for their flowers do. They don't require staking, dead heading and cutting back; and, best of all, they don't get overlooked when their flowers fade. As with blooming plants, there are multitudes of choices for interesting foliage
How to Lavish Less Labor and More Love on Your Garden
Over the years I have gained some insights that have helped to lighten my gardening workload. They can be summed up as follows: Timing matters, and so does the order in which you do tasks
Creating a Beautiful Garden Can Be as Easy as Getting Dressed in the Morning
Good gardening is very much like getting dressed in the morning -- doing it right is a largely a matter of choosing what to pair together. Plant combinations can be just as compelling as clothing combinations
Some of the Best Gardening Happens Where the Sun Doesn't Shine
Strolling through my woodland garden recently, in all its mid-spring glory, a guest asked how I managed to get so many different kinds of plants to grow in the shade. When I explained that these plants all preferred the shade -- and that in fact they needed shade to thrive -- she looked at me in amazement
Feeling Overwhelmed by Garden Tasks? Make a List and Get to Work
The secret to good gardening is timing. My advice to those who feel overwhelmed by the work that needs to be done in their gardens is to start by making a list.
Time to Make Habitat for Returning Birds
The vibrancy of spring is not limited simply to plant life in the garden; bird life too is abundant. It seems each day this week I have noticed new birds that have not been here since last fall. Every morning my garden sounds like a symphony warming up! To encourage birds into my garden I have set up a variety of different birdhouses around the property
Cultivating a garden with your family can offer a bounty of benefits to you and your kids. Along with fostering your kids' fondness for fresh fruits and veggies, gardening with your children can enhance their eco-consciousness. Even if you've never picked up a trowel, starting a garden can be a snap! Here, four easy ways to build a kid-friendly plot that thrives
Planting Strawberry Jars for Spring Color
Yesterday I potted up one of my favorite spring container plantings: violas in a strawberry jar. I have been collecting strawberry planters (often referred to as strawberry jars) for years. These odd shaped, often cylindrical planters have numerous openings in their sides and one large opening at the top
5 Elements Guarantee a Perfect Outdoor Living Area
Outdoor living spaces are increasingly more popular places to enjoy as summer approaches. Current trends in outdoor living areas feature dining options, fireplaces, water features, lavish gardens, even such high-tech accents as televisions. However you plan to use your outdoor space, to create a setting you can enjoy all year long, try to incorporate these 5 elements
Shovel-Ready Project: Dividing Your Perennials
April is when I start my annual plant relocation process, and my trusty shovel is frequently pressed into service. Inevitably, there are small trees, shrubs or perennials that have either outgrown their allocated space, crowding their neighbors, or that would look better somewhere else in the garden. Relocating plants in your garden is a relatively simple task
Too Cold to Plant? You Can Still Get Ahead of Garden Maintenance
The best way to keep a good garden is to anticipate seasonal work and stay ahead of it. It is all about timing, really, and starting early keeps me from playing catch-up later in the season. Staying ahead of garden chores means making lists and prioritizing. It also means paying close attention to the weather
Rarin' to Get Planting? Here's What You Can Do Now
A quick trip to your local garden center is the perfect way to get a case of spring fever. A quick tour spring planting stock will get you excited about the warm days ahead
How to Cut Your Air-Conditioning Costs
With energy costs on the rise, this summer could be sweaty and expensive. But there are some easy ways to trim your cooling costs without suffering through 90-degree evenings, sans air conditioning. In fact, if you start preparing for the coming heat wave now, you can probably save a few hundred dollars. Here's how
Moving Day: 10 Ways to Take the Stress Out of Packing
Moving isn't the end of the world but it can certainly feel like it. It's stressful, frustrating and downright exhausting. In fact, moving is among the top 20 life stressors that include the death of a spouse, getting married, or being fired. But armed with some simple tips, you can make it through unscathed
New Uses for Old Things: Household Odds and Ends
As a busy, penny-wise, green-minded mama, I'm on an ever-present mission to find new uses for things that may otherwise end up as trash. Here's what I discovered
Homeowner Savings Tips: What You Might Not Know
If you own a home, you might want to start thinking about the IRS. According to Julian Block's Home Sellers' Guide to Tax Savings, there are ways to lighten your tax load whether you're living in your home or selling it
Controlling Dust in the Home Is a Never-Ending Task
You're not alone in the war against dust. It affects just about everyone, except those who work in laboratories and factories where dust can seriously affect the outcome of tests or the manufacturing of certain items.
Fireplace Facelift Not a Job for the Faint of Heart
Fireplace restoration can be an enormous job. I always say that anything is possible if you have enough resources, which sometimes includes lots of money. This job, however, needs abundant skill, time and a deep knowledge of the building code.
Gorgeous and Glamorous Gray Goes the Distance
Colors can generate strong reactions. Some love red rooms, while others couldn't function if their rooms weren't bathed in white. But gray is the one shade that's a color chameleon, blending in wherever you use it
Easy Eco-friendly Spring-cleaning
Freshening up your house from top to bottom can seem daunting, but if you tackle one room at a time and get the whole family involved, you'll be finished before you hear the first round of 'Are we done yet?' Add a hint of green to your annual spring-cleaning fest with these tips for sprucing up every room in the house
30 Top-To-Bottom Spring Cleaning Tips
Few things are as satisfying as a thorough spring cleaning of your home -- inside and out -- including areas that don't need regular sprucing. Here are some tips to get the job done right
If you live in a loft or large, open-concept home, defining your space can be a challenge. Or maybe your apartment and your furniture seem at odds with one another. Fortunately, there's one decorating accent that can unify all these situations -- the humble area rug. But far from being simply something to walk on, area rugs can solve a number of problems. Here's how
Freshen Up Your House Whole House For Spring
Although there's nothing we can do about Mother Nature's stubborn grip on winter, we can freshen up our homes for the spring that will eventually arrive -- and help us feel better while we wait
You Can Pick Up Furniture Bargains In Unexpected Ways
When it comes to furniture, there's a distinct difference between cheap and inexpensive. Inexpensive furniture tends to fall apart and not look as good as more costly furniture. But buying quality furniture can take a big bite out of your budget. So how can you get a good value on both price and quality? Savvy shopping is the key
Teen Decor That Puts the Cool in School
In many youngsters' bedrooms, the emphasis is clearly on succeeding in sports, technology or fashion. However, a room designed around making education and learning cool could help make your teen more school-focused -- and a stronger student to boot.
Barclay Butera: Create Modern Rooms Simply By Changing the Walls
Having made an indelible mark on the world of interior design, Barclay Butera, a Los Angeles-based celebrity interior designer, shares a few expert design tips on modernizing interior walls and sprucing up your home
10 Sneaky Ways to Get Organized
There's a saying that for every minute spent organizing an hour is gained. Here are 10 sly storage areas that can help you sneak in more organization
Create A Girl's Bedroom Fit For A Princess
With the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton behind us, there will undoubtedly be a surge in little girls dreaming of castles, crowns and golden carriages. And while most families don't live in palaces and the likelihood of romancing a genuine prince is low, it is possible to indulge the would-be princess in your life with a bedroom fit for royalty
How Feng Shui Can Improve Your Life
Can moving the objects in your room improve your life? Practitioners of feng shui, the ancient Chinese art of arranging items and elements in the most favorable way, believe so. Here are seven strategies for cultivating more favorable feng shui in your own home and office
Go Green and Improve Happiness
Whether you're crazy for cilantro or mad for mint, fresh herbs are a must-have. Follow these six simple steps to cultivate your own herb garden, and you'll be happier and healthier in no time
Sure-to-Please Home Decorating Ideas
The one person who's usually responsible for decorating, organizing and designing in the home is Mom. Why not surprise her with some of your own decorating magic? These projects were all chosen with Mom in mind
Paint Your Kitchen 'Green' With These Eco-friendly Tips
Are you interested in a lifestyle that's as easy on Planet Earth as it is on your pocketbook? If the answer is yes, just take a stroll into your kitchen and look around. Everyday kitchen items, from appliances and the water faucet to food supplies and cleaning chemicals, have an impact on the environment you live in. Here are 15 eco-conscious kitchen habits
Trends in Painting: Is Faux Over?
In the 1980s, painting transformed from simply coloring a wall into a design technique. In the 1990s, the trend moved toward faux painting. Murals, faux marble and Venetian plaster became trendy. It was no longer fashionable to just roll a coat of paint on the wall. But is it time to ask if we're over faux?
How to Have a Gorgeous and Organized Kitchen
Frustrated with your kitchen? Know the space could be better? We asked a design expert for her advice on what you can do today to improve your kitchen, how to work around the most common kitchen design mistakes, her favorite small space ideas and more
Banquette Seating Makes For Cozy and Comfy Dining
Besides being good for the pocketbook, dining in offers better nutrition and all-important together time for busy families. With this in mind, maybe it's time to take a look at where you dine to make the space more comfortable and encourage your family to linger longer at the table. Banquette dining might be the answer
No Room for a Cellar? Create a Wine Closet
Without a doubt, Americans have discovered the joys of wine. The enjoyment of the fruit of the vine has turned many simple sippers into true oenophiles. And if you're short on cellar space to store and enjoy your favorite vintages, a wine closet might just satisfy your needs
It's never been easier to go green at home. Simple adjustments to your everyday chores will have your entire family integrating conservation into daily life with nearly no effort. Your crash course in greener living starts here
5 Cheap and Easy Decorating Ideas
Want to spruce up your home but think it's bound to cost a fortune? Not so, says syndicated home columnist Marni Jameson. 'There are many inexpensive ways to give a room a whole new look with just a bit of effort,' says Jameson. Here are five of her favorites
Spring-cleaning Checklist for Your Health and Your House
Allergy season is fast approaching. You can't control the outdoors, but there's plenty you can do to purify the indoors. To keep your home and family healthy, focus on these five major trouble areas during your spring-cleaning and beyond
On the sustainable-savvy scale, I'd rank myself fairly high. I recycle my empty bottles, love shopping vintage, and eat a plant-based diet -- locally whenever possible, of course. But, even the greenest of us flub up occasionally. In efforts to rectify my most major eco blunders, I turned to conservation expert Sara Snow for advice. Try these easy eco-changes to solve your green problems
Where to Save and Where to Spend on Interior Decorating
Decorating a home with an unlimited budget is easy. But the reality is most people have to pick and choose where to invest their money -- and where to save. It helps to have some guidelines on what's worth the investment and what's not
Creating the Ultimate Spa Bath
From restaurants to vacations, we're all seeking ultimate experiences. The same could be said for contemporary bathrooms. Formerly a strictly utilitarian room, the bathroom of today has been transformed. It's now the preferred retreat for luxury and pampering. And the recipe for a home spa requires only a few essential ingredients
Don't Overlook Bulbs of Summer; Now Is Time to Plan Planting
Time to Ready Your Backyard for Return of Avian Tenants
Late Winter Is Time for Pruning and Forcing
Key to Extraordinary Garden: Starting Your Own Seeds
Soothe Winter's Chill With a Steam Shower
Houseplants Add Life to Your Winter
Is Your Bedroom Decor Keeping You up?
Seed Catalogs Trumpet the Promise of Spring
Turning Down the Thermostat? Your Cyclamen Will Thank You
A Room With a View: Clever Decorating Can Improve Your Vista
Get Your Kitchen Drawers Organized Once and For All
Clear the Clutter for a Healthy Home
Evergreens Add Color: Interest in Otherwise Dull Winter Landscape
What to Do in a Frozen Pipe Emergency
In Cold Climates, Go Deep With Rigid Foam Insulation
Getting the Most Out of Your Garage Flooring
Falling Short on Christmas Decorating? Try These Last-Minute Tricks
Stay Toasty and Save Energy This Winter
Ease Stress With These 10 Holiday Home Time Savers
Mirrors: A Decorative Reflection
Granite Tile Instead of Slab for Countertop
Cut Your Carbon Footprint and Save Money With New Gadgets
Amaryllis: Bright Blooms for Winter
Restock Your Kitchen With Holiday Bargains
How to Install a Ceramic-tile Backsplash
7 Inventive Ways to Redeck Your Halls
Living Room Arrangement Inspires Conversational Holiday Gatherings
How to Set a Beautiful Holiday Table
Perk Up Your Powder Room Before the Holidays
Key to Happy Houseplants: Low Maintenance
Time to Bring the Garden Inside
Budget-friendly Kitchen Makeover Ideas
How to Organize Your Kitchen Cabinets
Where to Store Certain Foods in the Refridgerator