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Make Bookcases Pop With Contrasting Backings!

I'm really excited about the emerging trend I'm spotting with bookcases, cabinets, shelving, and similar furniture designed for storage and display: painting, wallpapering, or otherwise treating the back walls in contrasting colors to make some serious pop without going overboard. If you aren't onto it yet, let me introduce you! Whether you're an owner or a ... Read More »

Spruce Up Your Home for the Holidays

They're coming. You can practically hear the ominous music and the gunning of engines in the background heralding the arrival of guests for the holidays. And while you're excited to see old friends, family members, and loved ones, you're also embarrassed about that scuff on the front door, the funky tile in the bathroom, and the weird stain on the guestroom ... Read More »

Its Time to Winterize

Thanks to the time change, it's starting to feel like the middle of the night all the time -- at least, that's how it is in the northern reaches of the US. That means that it's time to start thinking about winterizing, which is a task you want to get done before it starts getting extremely cold. If you do your prep work now, you'll be snug as a dog at the fo ... Read More »

10 Uses for Milk Cartons

Maybe you don't go through milk by the jug like some people do, but chances are that you've got a steady supply of milk (or Lactaid) cartons streaming out of your house every month. You absolutely can recycle them, but did you know that there are also tons of other things you can do with them? 1. Composting Like other cardboard products, milk cartons can b ... Read More »

Green Cleaning Tips for Cat Pee

I love my cats. What I don't love is their pee. When it's confined to the litterbox, that's great, but sometimes they miss, or they're not feeling well, and they don't quite make it to the box to begin with. And then I have a big, stinky mess to clean up, along with a confused cat who can't figure out why I'm going "blech!" I'm not ready to call in a cleanin ... Read More »

November ‘Must Do’ Projects

The Halloween decorations have been cleared out, and there’s a chill in the air — must be time to get ready for winter! This is the month to winterize your yard, celebrate the colors of the season and get ready for the big holiday meal to come. Embrace the season It doesn’t take much to bring the natural beauty of the season indoors. Fill a bowl with acor ... Read More »

Your Fall/Winter Chimney Safety Guide

Whether you rely on wood, pellets, or coal for heat, or you just like a blazing fire now and then for the atmosphere, it's time to start thinking about chimney safety, because it's getting cold at night. Chimney fires tend to spike in early fall and winter when people are firing up their stoves for the first time after a few months of disuse, and they can qu ... Read More »

Should I Place Furniture in Storage?

Q. Should I put some of my furniture in storage to make my apartment look bigger? A.Doing whatever you can to make your apartment look as spacious as possible is a good idea, said Lee Williams, a real estate agent at Rutenberg Realty in Manhattan. If there is a lot of breathing room, he said, it “can help potential buyers visualize themselves living there.” ... Read More »

How to Clean Area Rugs

Keep your area rugs looking their best by following these simple tips for basic care, deep cleaning, and stain removal. Plus, learn how to properly treat specific types of area rugs. Basic Rug Care Rug care is determined by size, construction, and material. Care for large-size area rugs as you would wall-to-wall carpet. **Vacuum large rugs to remove dir ... Read More »

What to do With All These LEAVES?!

The hills are alive with color this time of year, so much so that some people are even taking road trips to check out the beautiful yellows, oranges, and reds. And they definitely do look gorgeous, but there's a downside, which anyone who owns a deciduous tree is already well aware of: what turns gold must fall down. All those leaves end up in a big messy pi ... Read More »