Blog

Some Highlights If you’re deciding whether to rent or buy, consider the many financial benefits that come with owning a home. As a renter, you build your landlord’s wealth and face rising costs. As a homeowner, you build your own net worth and can lock in your monthly...

There are many things to consider when designing a living room. Paint and fabric colors, furniture pieces and arrangement, decor, lighting, views, architectural details and overall atmosphere inevitably play key roles. You’ll find ideas for almost everything in this...

  Consider these inviting designs to energize your home and impress your guests. A few years ago, people were anticipating the demise of dining rooms. That hasn’t exactly happened. While homeowners have likely grown more comfortable having their regular...

Designing for wellness at home means creating spaces that are good for physical and mental health. It incorporates everything from improving air quality to using textures, materials, colors, shapes and furniture layouts that ease anxiety and make us feel closer to...

A home should be more than just somewhere to live. It should also be a retreat — a place in which you feel relaxed and nurtured. All too often, though, our houses slip into a more perfunctory role. Sometimes they even cause stress, confronting us with reminders of...

If your basement is merely utilitarian — or looks straight out of “That ’70s Show” — you’re probably not maximizing its function, value or appeal — or, for that matter, your potential for fun! Check out these awesome basements for inspiration on features you might...

The hardworking laundry room can be an afterthought in some homes. Tucked away in the garage, basement or a tiny closet, it’s easy for the space to become dark, dingy and cluttered. Perhaps it’s time to reconsider the layout and design of this workhorse. Since washing...

Though all small spaces present design challenges, the living room can be especially tricky as it is where you probably spend the most time and entertain guests as well. How do you strike a balance between making the room feel as spacious as possible while also...

Entryways are among the hardest-working spaces in a house. A well-designed front or side entry should provide some organizational components for shoes, keys, mail and even sports gear. And its style should help set the tone for the rest of the home. You’ll find ideas...

The pantry is the workhorse of the kitchen. It helps you when you need to get dinner (or breakfast or lunch) on the table and keeps ingredients fresh and cool. But like all hardworking spaces, it can get a little (or a lot) disorganized. Gather inspiration from these...

February is a time of year to indulge in home comforts like cooking big-batch meals, reading in the afternoon and watching movies with the family. Here are a dozen ideas to add to your to-do list this month, from the necessary (clearing sidewalks of snow and ice, say)...

Getting ready to host overnight guests? Let’s assume you have a bed (or air mattress) and coverings on all the windows. That’s a great start! This list will help fill in all the little things your guests will want to have on hand for a comfortable night’s sleep. What...

It’s no secret the pandemic reshaped the role of our homes. Once somewhere to rest, recharge and host the occasional backyard barbecue, home is now the epicenter of where many of us work, exercise and more. Are these changes still having an effect on homeowners’...

Living rooms can sometimes be overlooked now that so much of our at-home socializing takes place around a table in an open-plan kitchen space, but nothing beats being able to sit comfortably with friends and family, to talk, enjoy a drink or watch a movie. Comfort is...

A calming and relaxing bedroom is a goal for many homeowners. The right way to achieve that combination often includes light neutral colors with touches of warmth, layers of soft textiles and the occasional inviting spot to sit down and kick back. You’ll find...

A light, bright and airy bathroom with clean lines, plenty of storage and special details is on many homeowners’ wish lists. You’ll find plenty of great examples, as well as ideas for warm wood vanities and bold tile choices, in this countdown of the 10 most popular...

There are plenty of reasons to attend open houses, whether or not you are looking to buy. Here are eight reasons to check out those weekend open houses near you. 1. Get to know your local housing market before you sell.  Simply attending a few open houses in your...

It is common knowledge that a great number of homes sell during the spring-buying season. For that reason, many homeowners hold off on putting their homes on the market until then. The question is whether or not that will be a good strategy this year. The other...

Eating healthier, getting in shape and finding a creative outlet are among the common resolutions you can tackle at home. Some New Year’s resolutions, such as climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro or learning to fly a plane, definitely require you leaving your house. But for many...

While it’s certainly true that in some regions sitting on the patio in midwinter is not realistic, for those who live in mild climates there’s no reason outdoor rooms must sit unused for several months. To tempt yourself onto the porch or patio, even when there’s a...