Not all that long ago only the very rich or famous could boast of an entire room created just for movies. The screens were wide, the chairs plush, the drapes thick, and the servants quiet. Today anyone can have their own private home theater. You can devote an entire...

Nothing makes more of an immediate impression of your home than your windows. Beautiful windows enhance the look of your home, making it inviting and adding value. Are they single-pane and so old they let the snow and water in? Are there cracks in the glass that make...

You’ve finally had enough of your kitchen. The design is old, the appliances are ancient, you have maybe six square inches of counter space, the floor has grease stains a century old, and the cabinets are about to fall off the wall. Time to remodel the kitchen. Once...

The kitchen faucet has been leaking for weeks now, no matter how hard you twist the handle.  Drip, drip, drip. You're worried a professional plumber will charge you a fortune, which you don't have, so you called your third cousin who works on his own plumbing. But he...

Some houses need more than a fashionable decluttering.  Some houses are overloaded with “collections” of furniture, trinkets, clothing, appliances, souvenirs, craft materials, books and magazines, tools, and all manner of things. It’s very easy. Keeping one thing here...

When I bought my first house I knew it needed exterior painting. So I trotted on over to the good paint store and told them what I wanted in terms of color and coverage. The salesman asked if I had washed house yet. I confess I laughed in his face. Did he think I was...

So there’s hole in the roof. Or you need new carpeting. Or that bathroom faucet leak is driving you crazy. Before you hire anyone to make repairs, do a bit of homework first that could save you a lot of money and aggravation. Are professional contractors required to...