 | Add Warmth to Your Home with Hardwood Floors over Radiant Heat
Hardwood floors add beauty, warmth and lasting value to any home. Combine that beauty and durability with the comfort, decorating freedom and the lower cost benefits of radiant heat, and you have a great combination. Add the overall environmental benefits and it is win-win all around. |
 | The In-style In-law Suite
Three or more generations live together in 3.9 million American homes. Here are some ideas on how to make sharing a household much more enjoyable for all parties involved. |
 | Demolition Tips for Do-it-yourselfers
Virtually every home remodeling project begins with demolition. Homeowners who do their own demo can save big bucks, especially on projects where professionals will finish the construction part of the job. Before you tear up a floor, open a wall or demolish a countertop, keep these basic do-it-yourself demolition tips in mind. |
 | Change on Climate Begins at Home
By providing homebuyers with green features at lower cost, homebuilders can help to reduce global warming emissions and preserve the environment without placing undue burden on the homeowner. Here are some ideas on how it's being done. |
 | Make Your Basement the Ultimate 'Man Cave'
If a man's home is his castle, shouldn't there be one room in it where he can "hold court" with his noble peers and watch the game? Welcome to the concept of the "man cave," guys. You can create the sanctuary of your dreams and enhance your home value at the same time by renovating your basement into the ultimate guy retreat. |
 | Buying Eco-friendly Cabinets Brings Environmental Responsibility Closer to Home
Kitchen experts agree -- cabinets likely will take up about half of the kitchen renovation budget, so it's vital for homeowners wanting to "green" their kitchens to choose a quality cabinet manufacturer with roots in environmental sustainability. |
 | The Added Benefits of Environmentally-friendly Construction
Two of the hallmarks of green building are energy efficiency and indoor air quality. Skylights can improve both, and incentives and rebates are available to help defray the extra costs and keep green building affordable. |
 | How to Put the 'Family' Back into Your Family Room
It's easy for your family room's purpose to get lost in the hectic pace and clutter of everyday life. If it's time for your family to rise up and reclaim this room, here are some tips for putting the "family" back into "family room." |
 | Durable Decks Add Enjoyment and Long-Term Value
Building a sturdy deck is one way homeowners are creating a home they can enjoy more now, while looking smartly ahead in case they want to sell later. . |
 | Oh Baby! Expert Design Tips for the Little One's First Bedroom
Of all the tasks to complete during pregnancy, decorating the nursery may be the most fun. Now new parents can have designer access to the hottest trends and nursery design tips from the master of good design, Ty Pennington. |
 | Illuminating the Future of Kitchen Lighting: Energy Efficiency
If you're not using the latest generation of energy-efficient bulbs in your kitchen, it's time for a lighting upgrade. Here are some ideas to get you started. |
 | How to Protect Your Home from the Sun's Damaging Rays
Being indoors doesn't always guarantee protection from the sun's damaging effects. Here's how to make sure both you and your belongings will stay safe. |
 | Protect Your Home From Rising Energy Costs
With high winter heating bills in the forecast, many homeowners are investing in home improvements that can help save them money by reducing their demand for home heating fuel and their home's overall energy consumption. |
 | What Does a DIYer Really Want? Tools that Do More
Multi-tasking is in vogue, but do-it-yourselfers have been doing it for decades with the help of tools that serve more than one purpose. Here are some gift items that are essential for the DIYer's well-equipped multi-purpose tool box. |
 | Revitalize Your Kitchen and Bath with Stylish, Affordable Cabinetry
Even in a down economy, the desire for kitchen and bath remodeling doesn't go away -- especially if you've "had it" with cabinets that are old, falling apart and out of style. |
 | Small Projects … Big Impact
With home values continuing to decline, credit options contracting and sales in a slump, there's not a lot of good news for homeowners hoping for a huge return on investment for large-scale remodels. But what about smaller, yet significant, upgrades? These ideas will help update your home without breaking your saving's account. |
 | Love the Look of Wood Flooring, but Not the Hassle or Cost? Think Laminate
Natural wood once reigned as the product of choice when it came to selecting an attractive flooring material that would impart a warm, homey and upscale appearance. Today, with many new laminate flooring options available, homeowners are taking a closer look at what appears to be authentic wood, but delivers the beauty at a much lower cost with far more benefits. |
 | Peppermint Offers Safe, Non-toxic Deterrent to Mice
As the weather turns cooler, mice begin to seek cozier surroundings -- including our homes. Here's how to get rid of them without having to use poison. |
 | A DIY Checklist for Winterizing the Exterior of Your Home
The cold winter season brings destructive snow, ice and freezing temperatures to homeowners in the Snow Belt states each year and proper preparation is essential. There are numerous tasks that you, the homeowner, can do to protect and prepare the exterior of your home before winter sets in. |
 | Family and Friends Can Stretch Home Improvement Dollars
Homeowners today want big home improvement results ... but without big budgets they may not recoup. How do you achieve such lofty goals without the financial investment? Look no further than your friends and family. |
 | Breathe New Life into Your Backyard Pool
Has the charm of having a backyard pool worn off for you? Here are some ways to make it fun again. |
 | Beautiful Kitchen Updates on a Budget
Today's kitchens have evolved from a room where we simply prepared and ate our meals, to a place where we hold family discussions, socialize and entertain guests, work, study and even play with the kids. Here are some do-it-yourself projects to upgrade this important room for $200 or less. |
 | Is Your Roof Past its Peak?
As every homeowner knows, the houses we live in are in constant need of repair. It seems like there's always something crying out for attention. But there's one important part of your house that may go unnoticed, yet it's responsible for protecting everything you own. It's your roof -- and it may be showing signs of failure. |
| New Light for Outdoor Living Spaces
As cooler weather approaches, home owners spend as much time outdoors as possible. Making outdoor spaces more livable not only increases the value of a home, but can make a house feel larger and allow its occupants to enjoy the best nature has to offer. |
 | Professional Home Decor Tips For Selling, Staying and Going Green
Despite a slumping economy, home improvements remain a popular investment for homeowners. Lisa LaPorta, designer and host of HGTV's "Designed to Sell," offers tips to help homeowners make good design decisions -- whether they're selling, staying or going green. |
 | Trading Cobwebs for Crafts
Americans spent more than $31 billion on arts, crafts and hobbies last year, according to the Craft & Hobby Association. All crafters have one thing in common - the need for good work space. Here are some tips for creating a crafting paradise in your home. |
 | Energy Saving Tips for the Home
Looking for ways to save money. A good place to start is by replacing your old kitchen appliances. |
 | Custom Stairways Add Distinctive Style to Home Interiors
Interior stairways help define a home's look. Today's stairway offerings include a wide selection of styles and accessories, allowing homeowners to express to express their individual taste with looks that are easily incorporated into any home. |
 | Enhance Kitchen Lighting and Ventilation
Here are some ideas on how to get maximum enjoyment out of your most popular family space. |
 | Taste-test Your Style Desires
Your powder room is likely the smallest room in your home -- and could have the potential for your biggest style impact. With a few small changes you can go from drab to glam with some new styles and bold updates. |
 | Safe, Sound and Solo
When preparing your home for the golden years, there are many ways to ensure that each room in the house is comfortable and secure, so you can live safe, sound and solo. |
 | Above-Floor Plumbing: A Better Way to Build a Basement Bath
It's a common basement renovation scenario: You want a new bathroom and your plumber recommends a sewage ejection system. That requires digging through the concrete: a messy and time-consuming job with a high price tag. Here's a better option. |
 | Water Saving Measures Made Easy at Home
Consumers who want to upgrade their homes are looking for new ways to be friendly to the environment. Here are tips to cut back on water waste every time you shower, flush, or wash vegetables. |
 | Don't Renovate -- Refresh With Cost-effective Furnishings and Tips
Amid today's challenging economic climate, families are calling for quality and casual trends that can resonate for years to come, all at smart prices. Low-cost, easy changes can enhance a home's value and the pleasure in reveling in a unique and personal living space. |
 | Older Homeowners Have Option to Stay in Their Homes
Homeowners who want to make their house their home for a lifetime, regardless of their age or functional abilities, have a friend in the Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist program. It addresses the needs of the growing number of homeowners choosing not to move, but to make specialized modifications to their homes for long-term living. |
 | How To Stop Drafts and Save On Energy Bills
Imagine leaving a window open all winter long -- the heat loss, cold drafts and wasted energy! If your home has a folding pull-down attic stair, a whole house fan, a fireplace or clothes dryer, that may be just what is occurring in your home every day. |
 | Technology and Sleek Style Make Kitchens Chic
As today's kitchens continue to increase in size, staples such as appliances, countertops and faucets have transformed from once "ho-hum" objects to technologically advanced and highly stylized "must haves." Additionally, groundbreaking advancements have added new options for the kitchen. There are many ways you can create a chic and savvy kitchen that will be light years ahead of your neighbors. |
 | Be Eco-Wise with LED Lights
With more and more people concerned about the environment, building and decorating green has never been more popular. One of the easiest ways for homeowners to limit their environmental impact is to consider replacing the lighting inside their home. |
 | Green Homes Attractive to Buyers
Home buyers are looking for environmentally friendly properties, and in the difficult housing market of today, sellers are looking for new ways to attract buyers. Making a home greener with cleaner air quality may just be the answer to getting bids. |
 | Five Ways to Save Money While Improving Your Home's Energy Efficiency
This winter, Americans will face higher utility bills than ever before. Here are some steps you can take to help bring them down. |
 | Bathroom Safety Makeovers
The bathroom may seem innocent enough, but it can be more of an obstacle than a convenience for some elderly folk. What can you do to make the bath a safer, easier place to visit? |
 | For the Ultimate in Luxury Bathrooms, Stimulate Every Sense
With more homeowners investing in their current property, there is increased interest in luxury upgrades that not only enhance a home's value, but can be enjoyed on a daily basis. One of the most popular areas to make these upgrades is the bathroom. With advances in design and technology, adding to your bathroom can offer luxurious stimulation for every one of your senses. |
 | How to Transform Your Bathroom into a Luxury Spa
If you plan to invest your extra cash in luxury upgrades the whole family can enjoy all year round, the bathroom is a good place to start. |
 | The Basics of Buying a New HVAC System
Purchasing or upgrading a heating and cooling system can be confusing with so many parts, pieces, sizes and options to choose from. How do you know what's right for your home? |
 | A Great Fall Fix Up Starts with Your Garage Door
What is the one fall home fix-up project that takes only a couple of hours and yields the biggest bang for the buck of any exterior home renovation? For most people, the answer does not immediately come to mind: it's a stylish new garage door. |
 | Apply Sunscreen Liberally to Home: Enjoy Lasting Protection
With warm weather here, can your home handle the sun's blazing rays? Insulation is like sunscreen for your home, and you need about 19 inches in the attic to maximize protection against the heat. Taking this step is one of the best ways to reduce your home's energy use for cooling. |
 | Routers 101: The Do-It-Yourselfer's Top Tool
The router is probably the most underutilized tool in the average home workshop. When attached to a router table, however, a router can become a do-it-yourselfer's most versatile instrument. |
 | How to Make Your Home Green and Healthy
You can just smell it. You install new carpeting in your home, and the air in your living room takes on a brash, chemical scent. That can't be good. Here are some tips for a green and healthy home. |
 | Going for the Gold in Fall Home Decor
There's an almost Olympian sense of excitement when it comes to home decorating this fall. Here are the trends leading interior designers and industry experts across the country have predicted will be hot this season. |
 | Don't Delay Home Repair Projects
The cost of construction materials has risen more than 10 percent during the past year. If you are planning a home improvement, don't be discouraged by rising costs. Consider purchasing higher-quality products that may cost more initially, but can save you money in the future. |
 | Why It's So Important to Winterize Your Home
While it's still comfortable outside is a great time to winterize your home or business, especially since the U.S. Department of Energy is once again forecasting a huge hike in residential heating bills. |
 | Winterizing Your Home? Save Even More by Renting DIY Tools
As the weather cools, homeowners see fall as the year's last chance to do home maintenance to lower heating bills. Of course, you will not save money if you spend more on home improvement than you will save in reduced energy costs. Here are cost-effective ways to winterize your home. |
 | A Game Plan for 'Greening' Your Garage
Congratulations - your home is "green." But what about your garage? If your garage is still full of used automotive fluids, pesticides and chemicals, and still sports a drafty old door and little insulation, your garage just isn't as green as it could be. |
 | Top Kitchen Design Trends
Incorporating current trends into your kitchen design not only helps you create a stylish and updated room, but also increases functionality. From the latest colors to the newest materials, good design can ensure you enjoy your new kitchen. |
 | E-value-ating Your Shopping Strategy for Quality Kitchen Cabinets
At a time when people are remodeling their homes instead of buying or building new ones, homeowners are looking for ways to increase the comfort and value of their current living space without breaking the bank. |
 | Re-energizing For Winter
As cold weather advances, homeowners throughout the country can expect to see a substantial increase in energy prices. The price of heating oil, natural gas and electricity is projected to jump by nearly 20 percent. To maximize a home's energy efficiency, consider these tips. |
 | Home Fire Sprinklers: They're Not What You Think
Even though fire sprinkler technology has been saving lives in commercial property, hotels and hospitals for 100 plus years, most people don't realize the same technology is available to protect their homes. If you're thinking of buying, building or remodeling a home now is the time to learn about this state-of-the-art fire protection. |
 | Nature-friendly Yurts Popular with Green Builders
From the food we eat to the cars we drive, going "green" is a growing trend everywhere you look. And now, it's becoming a driving force in the home improvement industry as well. If you're interested in adding a new structure to your property, there is an option that is both earth-friendly and affordable. |
 | Water Coolers - Not Just for the Office Anymore
Water coolers -- the machines with a bottle on top that dispense water -- are typically associated with offices. But drinking water is beneficial for everyone, not just office workers, and having a home water cooler is convenient, cost effective and environmentally friendly. |
 | Redecorating and Keeping it Green
The redecorating bug has bitten you hard, and you want to join the "green" society by making your home stylish but healthy and environmentally friendly. |
 | Sprucing Up Your Home on a Budget
With existing home sales lagging and new home construction sales soft, many Americans are making the decision to sit tight in their existing homes - but that doesn't mean they're taking their living space for granted. |
 | Winterizing: Easy Steps to Help Save Money and the Environment
Cold weather is on the horizon, threatening to leak into your home and send a chill up your spine. With skyrocketing energy costs and a global movement to "go green," now's the time to help keep precious energy from going right out the window. |
 | Lower Your Utility Bills and Help the Planet
Not only is the price of just about everything going up, experts tell us that the planet is also heating up. However, there are simple steps you can take to lower your utility bills and reduce your carbon footprint at home without making drastic changes to your lifestyle. |
 | Top Tips for Painting Your Home
Painting the interior of your home can be one of the most rewarding and cost-effective ways to completely transform your living space. By following a few simple tips, you'll maximize your time and efforts, while ensuring the end result will look as if you hired a costly professional. |
 | Renovate Your Home with Lighting for Less
Great lighting inside and outside a home can enhance the overall appearance and value while making it safer. With the right strategy, you can refresh your home's lighting for less than you think. |
 | Homeowners Warming Up to Solar Water Heating
As fuel prices fluctuate and consumers struggle to cope with the rising costs of operating their homes, green-minded homeowners are turning to the sky for solutions. |
 | Hidden Pest Risks of Vacant Homes
That vacant, foreclosed home next door isn't just bringing down your neighborhood's property values. It may also be a haven for a myriad of pests that can threaten the health and safety of neighbors, children and pets. |
 | Interior Design for the Sports Lover
With the trend of sports decor becoming a mainstream choice throughout homes, decorating options are endless. Sports themes can range from fun and over-the-top to subtle and tasteful integrations depending on what the homeowner likes. Here are some ideas about where to start. |
 | A Window to Environmentally Responsible Improvements
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating and cooling account for 44 percent of the average home's total energy use. Replacing old and leaky windows with energy efficient models can bring a significant return on investment when you consider today's high energy prices. Saving energy is good for your wallet and the environment. |
 | Redecorate Your Yard and Help Reverse Global Warming
With the growing popularity of green building practices, more companies are incorporating environmental and sustainability policies. These are all positive steps toward reducing the impact of global warming and caring for our earth. But what do you really know about a product you buy that is labeled green? Is it really environmentally friendly, or is it just a marketing scheme? And how much of a difference is it actually making? |
 | Smart Bath and Kitchen Redesigns for Boomers Aging in Place
Accessibility and safety are key issues for baby boomers looking forward to staying in their homes as they age. Increasingly, today's consumers are addressing these issues in two of the home's most-used and most accident-prone rooms - the kitchen and the bathroom. |
 | Throwing the Traditional Deck a Curve
When custom homebuilder Scott Gregory decided it was time to put a deck on his lake cottage, he did what many builders do when they have the chance to work on their own property: He tried some new things. The result is an amazing outdoor living space with multiple levels, designated purpose areas, built-in seating, curves and innovative use of color. |
 | Add Outdoor Space and Save Energy
Adding onto your home adds value, but when economic times are tough, big home improvement projects are often not in the budget. However, there are ways to extend your living space to the outdoors with the added benefit of saving energy for less than the cost of an addition. |
 | 'Outrageous' Outdoor Spaces Start with Ceramic Tile
Long gone are the days when homeowners were satisfied with a simple deck, a beat-up grill and some basic patio furniture. Now the trend brings living rooms, baths, home spas, full kitchens and even meditation rooms into the great outdoors. Stone fireplaces, built-in grills, water features, multiple levels for patios and decks, hot tubs and even flat-screen TVs - all the luxurious appointments of indoor life are finding their way into outdoor environments. |
| Kitchen and Bath Remodels - It's in the Details
On average, a bathroom remodel costs $15,789 and a kitchen remodel costs $55,503 according to Remodeling Magazine's 2007 Cost vs. Value report. But you don't need to spend thousands of dollars to get a fresh look in your home. Focus on the items that get used the most, like the faucet. |
 | Seven Green Tips to Slash Soaring Home Heating Bills
Record world oil prices will hit home heating this winter, with consumers likely paying high prices to heat their homes. Now is the time to give your home a "check-up." |
