|
|
|
The kitchen of the future at your fingertips |
|
We turn to technology to make many aspects of our lives easier - from traveling with a GPS to staying connected with loved ones via social networking Web sites. It's no surprise, then, that our kitchens, the most-used room in the home, are becoming increasingly high tech. |
|
 |
|
|
Celebrate a new look for your home in the New Year |
|
Each year about 70 percent of Americans make a New Year's resolution and most soon forget they ever made one. Time for a change? Why not resolve to give your old house a new look in the New Year? Start the new decade with a new attitude about your home's makeover. |
|
 |
|
|
How to decorate a child's room and love the results |
|
Parents and children rarely have the same decorating tastes when the time comes to redo a child's room. But don't worry - with a few tricks, you can create a stylish bedroom that is fun and functional for your child. |
|
 |
|
|
Today's powder room: small space, but big design |
|
The powder room - it's one of the smallest rooms in the house, but also the room that typically sees the most traffic, especially when you're entertaining guests. Just because it's the smallest room doesn't mean it needs to be small in style. |
|
 |
|
|
Minimizing bathroom clutter |
|
While bathrooms are some of the smallest rooms in the house, they tend to be the areas where a lot of personal items are stored. Typical bathroom sink counters and shelves are crammed full of cosmetics, medications, hair-styling items and dental care tools, looking cluttered, messy and making it difficult to clean them. |
|
 |
|
|
Space-saving hardwood storage stunners |
|
First impressions are lasting ones when it comes to your home. But before adding or rearranging storage in any room, make sure you examine and evaluate what you need, what you have space to store and how it will fit into your home. |
|
 |
|
|
The land of make-believe: Creating playful kids' rooms on a budget |
|
Most parents can relate: Redecorating your child's room often turns out to be far more challenging than freshening up the decor in other areas of your home. After all, kids have their own personalities and tastes - and what you like might not mesh with their ideas of the world's coolest bedrooms. With a little planning and a lot of imagination, it's easy to create a playful space for kids that pops with color. |
|
 |
|
|
Give house guests the gift of a 5-star hotel experience |
|
Holidays, birthdays, graduations or even just weekend visits, you can expect house guests to pop in sometime this year. Whether visitors are spending just one night or an entire week in your home, the situation can be stressful for everyone involved. Never fear. You can do a few simple things long before your company arrives to ensure their stay is a comfortable one. In fact, they might even mistake your guest bedroom for a luxury hotel room. |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Keeping your wood floor's natural shine |
|
Wood floors are a beloved part of a home, and are also a great investment that can boost your home's value by up to $10,000, according to the Hardwood Information Center. |
|
 |
|
|
Home, safe home, with some simple updates |
|
Ninety percent of homeowners plan to stay in their homes for as long as their health permits, according to "Kitchen and Bath Business" magazine. And, as the place that you spend a majority of your time, your home can play a big role in your health and happiness. |
|
 |
|
|
Dramatically update your kitchen in six hours or less with six projects |
|
With the amount of time you spend in your kitchen, why settle for out-of-date features and decor - especially since it is easy to give your kitchen a 180-degree makeover? Try these six simple projects, and in no time at all you'll have a kitchen where you will want to spend more time. |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Designing the perfect playroom on a shoestring budget |
|
Playrooms are ideal spaces for encouraging children's creativity, providing them with the stimulation they crave and helping them create a connection with others. The great news is that you don't have to build an addition onto the house or set aside your family vacation fund to create a great playroom. |
|
 |
|
|
Greening the kitchen with eco-friendly cabinetry |
|
Homeowners embarking on a kitchen remodel typically must select the style, the quality of craftsmanship and the materials that meet their unique values and project goals. With the pressing need to increase energy efficiency and conserve resources, green remodeling continues to gain in popularity. |
|
 |
|
|
Get organized, save money, be happy |
|
A disorganized home wastes time, and time is money. It can be frustrating if you're constantly misplacing items, throwing out spoiled food that went missing in the kitchen and paying surcharges for unpaid bills that got lost in the shuffle. But it's easy to put a little happiness back into your life if you just get organized. |
|
 |
|
|
Replacing household products can keep you safe |
|
While people take all manner of precautions to ensure the safety and health of their families, some household products may need more attention and maintenance to keep loved ones and the home environment as safe as possible. A recent study shows that many Americans are unknowingly at risk of illness, injury or worse due to living with and using products that have not been properly maintained or replaced. |
|
 |
|
|
How to warm up your home with natural touches |
|
Interior design continues to evolve rapidly. But it's not just going in one direction - it's branching out in new ways and giving homeowners fodder for ideas about how they can turn their existing house into their dream home. There is something for every taste, too, as different design concepts become more fully developed, catering to all people and all styles of homes. |
|
 |
|
|
Comfort food season has arrived |
|
When temperatures drop and the days grow shorter, you know that comfort food season has arrived. And nothing is more heartwarming than bringing family and friends together for a traditional winter meal, evoking feelings of warmth and nostalgia. |
|
|
|
|
Keep your house fresh before, during and after the game |
|
Having friends over for a football party can create some interesting chaos in your house. Keeping everything clean - and smelling good - might be a challenge. Follow a simple game plan to keep your house fresh before, during and after the party. |
|
 |
|
|
Tips to beat in-home allergies this winter |
|
Allergy sufferers often pay the greatest price during the winter months when the cold weather forces us indoors. Even though ragweed season has passed, there is something else that can trigger allergy symptoms without warning - the allergens that lurk inside your home. |
|
 |
|
|
Gardening is making a popular comeback |
|
Change has come to America. The pop culture phrase "show me the money," boiling throughout business and industry, has cooled down and is forcing people to take a hard look at what is really important in life. |
|
 |
|
|
The home improvement that can 'green' your winter |
|
Spring and summer needn't be the only seasons of "green." In fact, winter is a great time to green your home, especially if you undertake improvements that deliver environmental, economic, emotional and physical health benefits. Adding a skylight delivers all those green pluses - and it's doable even during winter. |
|
 |
|
|
Accessories: What every well-dressed skylight is wearing this year |
|
In the world of fashion, accessories can make an average outfit look sophisticated and stylish. The same can be said in the world of home fashion, where smart accessories can turn an already great idea - installing a skylight - into an energy-efficient, eco-conscious home run. |
|
 |
|
|
Selling your home? Easy improvements to attract buyers |
|
Real estate pros often coach their clients on the value of making "curb appeal" improvements to help sell their homes. Outside painting and minor repairs signal that the house has been well cared for. That's a great marketing tactic, but an even better advantage is offering multiple bathrooms. |
|
 |
|