I'm all for being a considerate summertime neighbor. Being mindful of how much noise one produces and inviting the neighbors to an occasional barbecue at your place are nice ways to increase the peace... Read More »

Hello, Midwesterners, and anyone else who is looking at the prospect of rebuilding a flooded home. I will outline the process of rebuilding a flooded home in this article, and I will direct you to resources for information, building materials, and contractors. It would be lying to say that the process... Read More »

Weatherizing a home to reduce energy usage and maximize savings is something homeowners think about in cold weather. The fact is, energy efficiency is just as important during summer months, and simple improvements can make a big difference in your budget as well as increase comfort by keeping your... Read More »

Roommates are hard to find. Let me rephrase that. Good roommates are hard to find. It is very easy to find people who are renting out rooms in apartments. It is tempting to just take one of those rooms, just to get out of whatever crummy living situation you are in. It is possible to give the potential... Read More »

Depending on the material that your bathtub is made of, you might have the option to refinish it rather than replace it. If your bathtub is made of porcelain, cast iron, or fiberglass, it can be refinished. The cost-effectiveness of refinishing versus replacing your tub depends on the cost of tub... Read More »

Remodeling a small kitchen is a challenge that quite a few of us face. Visions of wide open kitchens with multiple islands dance in our heads, but in reality we are remodeling our own small, perfectly imperfect kitchens.However, did you know that some professional cooks actually prefer small kitchens... Read More »

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I woke up this morning at my sister's house in San Francisco. I flew here yesterday for a family reunion. I am used to my bathroom in Brooklyn, and I wasn't really mindful of what I was doing when I woke up and rolled into the bathroom. I pulled my wedding ring and my engagement ring off of my finger... Read More »

Though we're not awake during most of the time that we spend in our bedrooms, most folks spend more hours in their bedrooms than in any other room of the house. Bedrooms can be full of allergens, or they can be safe havens from allergens. If you or your loved ones are suffering from respiratory problems... Read More »

Did you have a tuna fish party and now have a whole pile of cans to recycle? Stay thy villainous hand! Thou shalt not heft those trusty vessels into the recycling bin! If you just made a record-size bowl of tuna fish salad for your favorite coworker's birthday lunch potluck at the office, you are... Read More »

Will the deer trend ever get played out? For years already, hipsters have been screen printing deer onto everything, from living room couch pillows to T-shirts. Home bloggers started putting deer motifs everywhere, from wall hangings to paper mache (cruelty free, natch) faux ... Read More »

Let’s set the tone by stating that I am not going to tell you to do the work yourself, nor to buy all of your materials second-hand. What I’m discussing is how to make your normal, run-of-the-mill remodeling project cheaper. The assumption is that you will be employing a ... Read More »

In the 1980’s and 1990’s, oil got a bad rap. Nobody wanted to eat fat anymore, and nobody wanted to let oil touch her face. Oil made you fat, and oil gave you pimples. Except…it didn’t. Along came the health food people of the new millennia, who announced that in fact, some oils are super-sludge that... Read More »

In the 1980's, it was all about big art. Wall-size paintings were the sign of being "with it". At the moment, the reverse is true. Hip houses host collections of small framed art pieces that cover entire walls, or parts of walls. 2013 is the year of the vignette. Nobody fancy said that; it's an observation... Read More »

There are too many choices of coffeemakers. This is evident at the coffee shop that I splurge at once a month. They sell espresso, Chemex, Melita filter, and regular drip coffee there, and you get to choose which one you want. At the moment, I keep a small French press at the office. It's... Read More »

Hello out there, cupcakes. If you are reading this article, there is a good chance that it's because you dyed your hair in a bathroom that does not belong to you. Now you have to erase the evidence of having gotten hair dye all over the tub, shower, counters, or sink. Or all of the above. OK, so we've... Read More »

The Environmental Working Group released its annual... Read More »

Mom's who garden might be the most fun to buy gifts for. This Mother's Day, give your gardening mom something that she'll love. There are so many unexpected options when it comes to gardening gifts. There are also gifts at every price point, and even DIY gift ideas, to choose from. Low... Read More »