Lawn & Garden
Articles and information on Lawn & Garden
A Place for Family, a Place for Self
Today's families are a whirlwind of activity, running to school and work, to and from meetings, events and get-togethers. Research has shown that because today's families are so busy, home has become a retreat, a place to escape and relax.
A Simple Way to Increase Outdoor Living Space
For those homeowners looking to add to their living space, improve their lifestyle and increase the resale value of their home, the perfect solution is to extend your living area outdoors through the addition of decks, patios, outdoor kitchens and entertainment areas.
Add Affordable Luxuries to Your Home Now and Reap the Benefits at Resale Time
The consensus of opinion among realtors is that there are a few key improvements that can be done to substantially increase the value of your home when the time comes to sell it. But why wait to make repairs and enhancements until you want to sell when the upgrades will improve the quality of your life today?
Black, White and Beautiful All Over
Remember the old joke: What's black and white and read all over? Although that joke, along with its punch line, the newspaper, as well as black and white television, may all be obsolete, the fashion caché of black on white and vice versa is never out of style.
Bring the Outdoors In
The relaxation of an evening outside is often forgotten as fall creeps in. Many of the items that made your backyard an oasis don't have to hibernate for the winter. With a bit of creativity, you can enjoy that summer feeling all year long.
Can't Flush Your Troubles Away? Here's How to Buy the Right Toilet
After doing weeks of exhaustive research on toilets, one thing became clear: the general public makes its toilet purchases based on style.
Checklist for Home Safety
As much as we might not like to admit it, as we age, we face physical challenges we didn't have to worry about in our youth. Weakened muscle strength, balance and coordination problems and failing eyesight are just some of the issues that will plague us as we get older.
Constructing Reality
Building an outdoor kitchen in eight hours, redesigning a bathroom to meet handicapped requirements, tearing down a house and rebuilding it in five days ... These sound like some pretty big feats in the world of construction - but not for these three women.
Decorating to Stay
How many times have you cleaned up after people coming into your house, tracking in mud, dirt and snow, and thought "there has to be a better way." Doormats help, but they don't stop the majority of the dirt, and they have to be cleaned frequently during messy fall and winter months.
Entryways Provide Invitation to Home
Does your home's front entrance provide an invitation or just an entrance? Does it cause people to take notice or drive on by? Just like a finely manicured lawn and a well-maintained exterior add curb appeal to a home, so too, does the front entrance. A home's front entry is one of the first elements visitors see of your home.
Everything In Its Place
Stuff. You've got a lot of it. It's now fall, again, and you've been meaning to get organized since your last new-year's resolution.
Fabric Choices Show What Makes You Tick
In language as in decorating, fabric is more than "a material made from fibers or threads." That definition actually falls behind an older, deeper definition of the word. Webster first defines fabric as "the framework or basic structure of anything."
Faux Finishes Add Character to Your Home
Each room of your house evokes different emotions and the way you design them sets the stage for some of the most important moments in life. Creating the perfect setting is a balancing act of putting the right things together.
Get the Facts to Protect Your Largest Investment
Most homeowners don't wake up one morning and decide, "Today, I am going to put new siding on the exterior of my home." It's a decision that usually takes some research, thought and procrastination. After all, your home is one of your largest and most prized investments.
Home Décor is Looking Up
You've hung pictures on the wall, painted and faux-finished, and added all those special touches to make your room unique. But have you forgotten something? One of the easiest ways to add a touch of elegance, whimsy or style to a room is just above you: the ceiling.
Home Design Keeps it Basic
Today's definition of success for women is much different than it was only a generation ago. They have many more opportunities than the women who preceded them. This broad range of options often times brings with it an accelerated lifestyle...
Home Fashions Inspired by the 19th Century Arts and Crafts Movement
Originating in England in the late 19th century, and later spreading to the United States with a fury, the Arts and Crafts movement is one of true artistry when artisans embarked on an effort to prevent the mass production of original works.
Home Inspection Checklist -- Know Your Home Inside and Out
More than 43 million Americans are expected to buy, sell or relocate their homes each year, and a professional home inspection is a major step on the path to purchasing that home.
Improving Your Home Room by Room: Quick and Easy Kitchen Fix-Ups
If you're anxious to fix up your home, you're not alone -- the $214 billion remodeling industry is projected to grow to $224 billion or more in 2004, according to the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.
Is Your House the Money Pit?
Someone once said, "Have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful or beautiful." The old adage rings true today as value-conscious Americans scrutinize where they're spending their money and question whether they are getting the best return on investment -- the largest of which is typically a home.
Jewelry for the Kitchen
Accessorizing doesn't have to stop at a little black dress punched up with trendy chandelier earrings and an eye-catching bracelet, or a well-tailored suit complemented by cufflinks and a new wristwatch.
Light from Above Important for Health
It may come as a surprise to seniors that as they age, their eye lenses thicken and their pupils shrink. This causes their eyes to adapt more slowly to changing light conditions.
Low-maintenance Decking Alternatives Mean More Time for Living
Adding a new backyard deck not only extends your living space, it gives your home a vital outdoor connection. But as we all know, the point of having a deck is to spend your time relaxing and enjoying the outdoors -- not constant sealing, staining or painting.
Magically Transform Your Home By Night
Homeowners spend hundreds of thousands of dollars making the outside of their homes look spectacular. Yet, this investment remains visible only half the time -- when the home isn't shrouded in darkness.
Mother Nature's Instant Party Plants
You want color and texture fast and there's no time for potting or planting. Solution: fill your yard, patio and deck with the spectacular blooms of a variety of robust, durable, easy to maintain annuals for an instant garden that looks like it's been there all along.
Myths and Legends of Decking Materials
Many of us use our local retailers or contractor as a resource for information for all our home renovation needs. When it comes to innovative building materials, not all the retailers have had the time to educate their staff.
Not Everybody Loves Raymond's Kitchen
American families are alarmingly at home in TV star Ray Romano's chaotic on-screen kitchen. In a recent homeowner poll, one in four families say the famous TV kitchen, with its cluttered, outdated look, is all too familiar -- and that they need help.
Painting Made Simple(r)
Are you tired of staring at four neutral-colored walls? Have you noticed that the 'mauve' you painted your room several years ago is no longer en vogue? Whatever your reasons, a new coat of paint is the fastest, easiest and least expensive way to add some pizzazz to your home.
Personal Touches Make a House a Home
Personalization is all the rage in fashion these days. From monogrammed purses to flashy jewelry proclaiming your initials, the fashion forward crowd is all about owning this trend. You can carry this individualism in your home decorating as well.
Preparing Your House for Sale -- Help Prospective Buyers Picture Themselves in Your Home
Between 2002 and 2003, more than 14 percent of the U.S. population changed dwellings. The most common reason for moving was the need for more space (43 percent). When you decide to put your house on the market, it's important that you present a spacious, clean living space in which prospective buyers can imagine themselves living.
Put the Freeze on Cold Air Drafts this Winter
Before the winter winds put a chill in your air, pull out your gun (your caulk gun that is) and stop air leaks dead in their tracks. Air drafts around the home are more than just a comfort issue; they can contribute to many unnecessary dollars added to your heating bill.
Remodeling and Home Improvement Ideas -- Make Your New House Your Dream Home
You found the perfect house, the home of your dreams… almost! The excitement that comes with finding your dream home naturally incites expansive thinking as you consider ways to improve the house and update the décor to reflect your personal style and taste.
Residential Fire Sprinklers: The Logical Choice for Saving Lives and Property
Every 90 seconds a home fire is reported in the United States. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), eight out of 10 fire fatalities occur where Americans feel safest -- in their own homes.
Restore Your Vinyl Siding to Its Original Beauty
Getting tired of that faded vinyl siding on your home? Many homeowners believe their only alternative is to replace siding that has lost its luster as a result of UV radiation and acid rain; but there is a less expensive solution.
Securing Your Home with Style
Those concerned with home security will be intrigued by new door and glass technology that can help make homes safer without the "iron bar" look. Combining several design innovations and a remarkable new glass similar to the security glass being used in U.S. government buildings...
Selling Your Home? Add Curb Appeal with a Few Simple Touches
Spring has sprung and 'tis the season for homeowners to put up "for sale" signs in their yard. If you want to add curb appeal to your home in time for selling season, a few simple touches can make a powerful impact in the eyes of potential buyers.
Six Tips to Cut your Cooling Bills
Everyone needs affordable ways to beat the heat. With hot weather already upon us, now is the time to give your home a "check-up". Here are six tips from the Comfort Institute to make sure your summer electric bills don't blow your cool!
Splash, Strengthen and Tone
John Compton's backyard is beautiful by any measure. Heirloom and native plants fringe an emerald carpet of lawn. Roses, both old and new, scent the air. And sprawling oaks and splendid long-leaf pines tower over it all.
Spring Starts in the Fall
Leaves are dropping. Cool weather is in the forecast. And you are worrying about spring . . . Now?
Stop Wasting Water -- Replace Your Toilet Today
Want to save money on your water bill? You don't have to stop taking daily showers or cut down on the number of laundry loads you wash per week, but you may want to replace your water-wasting toilets.
Technology and Design -- Putting them Together for the Perfect Home Theater
Home theaters have gone beyond the purview of the rich and are showing up in homes across the country, from high-rise lofts to suburban subdivisions. So if you've been thinking of taking your home viewing experience to the next level, or if you've already started a home theater makeover, you're in good company.
The 97-Percent Solution for America's Kitchens
The chandelier used to mark your arrival. Clad in crystal, it met you in the foyer of a well-appointed home, and then dazzled you from a power position over the diningroom table.
What to Discuss With Your Homebuilder
Building a new home takes a lot of time and effort, and your home purchase is probably the largest investment you'll ever make. To protect your investment, you'll want to ask your builder some pertinent questions before construction begins.
