Each year as spring approaches many homeowners begin to think that a little extra storage space would be a good idea. Generally the longer they’ve been in a home without doing so, the idea of adding more space becomes more desirable. So, if you’ve decided to begin the process BetterSheds.com has a good discussion of how to choose wood, metal or vinyl for your shed; wikiHow  has a good article

This season, cooler and softer colour choices with subtle warm tones follow a minimalistic en plein air theme, taking a cue from nature. This season there is a move toward the cooler and softer side of the colour spectrum. An eclectic, ethereal mix of understated brights, pale pastels and nature-like neutrals take center stage as designers draw from daydreams of simpler times. Remembrances of retro delights, folkloric and floral art,

Take Steps In the Building Process to Plan for Tomorrow’s Technologies. One of the joys of building your own home is taking full advantage of exciting technologies that are widely available today but that were unimaginable just a few years ago. Your new home can be a very entertaining space with ultra-high definition video, interactive gaming, 90-inch flat-screen TVs and more. And it can offer the latest in home automation.

When looking at home furnishings and décor, we are usually quick to notice outdated fixtures, faucets and hardware. Perhaps when you moved into your house, those 80’s brass relics were the first things to go. While those fixtures are still not in style, and might never be, don’t make up your mind too quickly about brass – the brass fixture has become a classic and has been reinvented for a

Status: Sold Bright & spacious custom open plan Bungalow with numerous updates, set on a pie shaped lot. Interlock stone drive & walkway. Vaulted Foyer & Dining room. Separate Dining room. Granite counters in Maple Kitchen accented with wall of pantry cupboards. Built-in bookshelves frame the gas FP in Great rm. Sharpe new Ensuite with seamless glass shower & granite on vanity. Stunning custom wall of built-in cabinets & desk

From Realtor Magazine Jan 02, 2015. Pending home sales inched up in November, moving above year-over-year levels for the third consecutive month, according to the National Association of Realtors® latest Pending Home Sales Index report. The index is a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings. All regions saw a slight gain in sales activity in November, except for the Midwest, NAR reports. Nationwide, the index ticked up 0.8 percent to

Repairing an old, faulty appliance may seem like the cheaper option, but this may not be the best strategy when we think about energy efficiency. A key reason electric bills are so high is because old, inefficient appliances are eating up more energy than they are worth. “Knowing how much energy your appliances use annually can be a great money saver,” says Molly Hall, Executive Director of the Energy Education

In winter many of us use space heaters or electric blankets to lower costs. These are a simple solution for the cold, but must be used properly to prevent fires (Harvard says space heaters case 25,000 home fires a year, and 6,000 emergency room visits). Safe Electricity offers these tips for safely using space heaters and electric blankets. Choose a product with a safety certification. Look for the UL, ETL,

The polar vortex has descended with a vengeance on much of the U.S. this year, setting records for low temperatures and threatening to send utility bills skyrocketing. While you can’t do anything about the chilly weather, you can take steps to make your home more energy efficient and pay less for heating. To start, the U.S. Department of Energy has a do-it-yourself energy audit on its website, or you can

Yahoo.com lists seven new products from Quirky, all under $100, and all packed with electronics that can help you control your home from your smartphone. The smart products include a sensor that can tell you whenever a door or window in your home has been opened or closed; a thermostat that automatically adjusts the temperature in each room, based on the temperature in other rooms; and a gizmo that lets