Author Profiles

STIHL recalls faulty chain saws. Read More

Buckingham Palace is looking for a housekeeping assistant to draw baths for the royal family. Here’s how the palace can prevent a “Downton Abbey” moment and prevent any slip-ups in the bathroom. Read More

Don’t take your old garden friends — perennial flowers — for granted. A little routine love keeps these stunners growing for bloomin’ ever. ROI, anyone? Read More

Roses are red; violets are blue — here are romantic improvements that add value, too. Read More

Urban farmers who raise and slaughter their own food are arguing with neighbors who think urban amateurs shouldn’t be whacking poultry. What do you think? Read More

Here are celebrity kitchens that make our mouths water. Thanks, Architectural Digest! Read More

Punxsutawney Phil predicts six more weeks of what we laughingly call winter. Read More

Are you getting a little more winter color in your garden than you expected? What’s growing in your yard that shouldn’t be? Read More

The USDA has released its new and improved digital Plant Hardiness Zone Map. It’s about time. Read More

Samsung’s new Wi-Fi washer/dryer will ping your phone when your unmentionables are clean. Do we remotely need that? Read More

Sometimes, brilliance just happens. A Remodelaholic kitchen makeover proves that serendipity can trump the best-laid plans. Read More

When it comes to weight gain, we blame our genes, our metabolism, and wrong foods that taste so right. But maybe our kitchens are to blame. Here’s why. Read More

There’s a hot debate brewing over hurricane shutters. It boils down to curb appeal vs. home protection. Both sides have valid points. What’s yours? Read More

The colder it is, the more likely you’ll hear squeaks and groans from your home. Here are some tips on stopping those annoying sounds. Read More

We can think of a few great ways to repurpose old garage doors. But what some California neighbors have done doesn’t top our list. Read More

Don’t have a conniption over the fusarium bacteria researchers say commonly live in bathroom sink drains: It probably won’t kill you. Read More

The Wounded Warrior Home Project uses universal design to help disabled vets live independently. Read More

Holiday gingerbread houses need maintenance and improvement, too. We’ve collected some fix-up tips from chefs who bake fantastic gingerbread houses for a living. Read More

Just because your garden is dormant for the winter doesn’t mean you should snooze, too. Experienced gardeners do their dreaming — and planning — when the snow flies. So while you’re thinking of blossoms and butterflies, be sure to add trees and shrubs that look great even in snow. Read More

We love over-the-top Christmas light displays. So we asked one hard-working holiday light hanger to share the secrets of his 400,000-light display in Delaware. Read More

Last year we started a conversation about the energy costs of Christmas lights displays. We think it’s worth pursuing this year: What’s your take? Are they a waste of energy or something that shouldn’t have a price tag attached? Read More

Here’s how to light up your Christmas light display safely and economically. Read More

Relocated homes are a double blessing: They let buyers fulfill the dream of home ownership by picking up a house for next to nothing, and they keep old homes out of the landfill. Read More

U.K. geek shows you how to build automatic doors like the ones on the Starship Enterprise. Space saver, anyone? Read More

Technology eventually will give birth to smart windows that adjust to the weather. But until that blessed event, here are tips on how to make your windows more clever and energy-efficient. Read More

Don’t toss out those fallen leaves you’ve spent weekends raking and blowing. Autumn leaves make low-cost mulch and fertilizer to protect and feed your landscaping all winter. Read More

Occupy L.A. has destroyed the City Hall lawn, and conservationists are saying good riddance to the water-guzzling grass. Read More

Americans waste almost five hours a year waiting for service people to show up. Use that time wisely by tackling these home maintenance tasks. Read More

The 2011 hurricane season, tying for the sixth most-active on record, is virtually over — and not a moment too soon. Read More

Is your home ready for holiday visits from friends and family? Here’s how to prepare for the invasion. Read More

Don’t throw your campaign lawn signs in the trash when the election is over. Most political lawn signs are recyclable. Read More

Bathrooms of the future let you do business while you’re taking care of business. Read More

The Farmers’ Almanac is expecting some “clime and punishment” this winter, much like the October surprise snow storm that’s knocked out power to 3 million homes. Here’s how to prepare for the next big weather hit. Read More

Halloween cleanup can be the scariest thing about the holiday. Here’s a tip sheet on how to remove eggs, toilet paper, wax, and other messes that go bump in the night. Read More

A lucky family will now call a Solar Decathlon house “home sweet home.” Read More

Plant flower bulbs in autumn to bump up curb appeal in spring. Here’s how. Read More

Apple innovator Steve Jobs embraced small-is-better kitchens ahead of his time. Read More

Sometimes home owners don’t know their houses are haunted until a remodel disturbs the spirit world. Read More

Your community food pantry needs help feeding an increasing number of needy families. Here’s how you and your neighbors can pitch in. Read More

These often-overlooked home maintenance chores will cost you in the long run if you neglect them. Read More

Baby-proof your home to keep little ones safe. Read More

Kitchen fires are eminently preventable. Here’s how to stay safe now and during the holidays when you really put your oven and stove through their paces. Read More

We love it when we find a site that helps us find ways to reuse old items, and IKEA Hackers fits the bill with creative solutions. Read More

There is an upside to the heavy rains spawned by Hurricane Irene and recent tropical storms: your landscaping’s fall and spring foliage. Read More

HouseLogic salutes Habitat for Humanity on World Habitat Day. Read More

Attic cleaning removes allergens and respiratory irritants that can make your family sick. Read More

More than 20,000 John Deere lawn tractors are being recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and equipment manufacturer John Deere. Read More

If you wanna make money off your house and have a working bathroom, a new iPhone app may be kismet. CLOO’ links city dwellers who’ve gotta go with friends of friends of friends who’ve got a bathroom to go in. Think of CLOO’ — community+loo — as a CouchSwap for bathrooms. Read More

It’s back-to-school time, and the perfect season to bone up on your home owner basics: standard DIY know-how that’ll keep your household running smoothly, day in and day out. Read More

If you’ve jumped on the Apple “i” bandwagon, you’re never far from iPhone, iPod, and iPad apps that help maintain and improve your home — values near and dear to our hearts. Read More

Like everyone else, we were stunned by the 5.9 magnitude earthquake centered in Mineral, Va., today at around 2 p.m., and felt throughout the East Coast. Read More

Philips Lighting Company and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission have recalled almost 2 million compact fluorescent flood lamps that pose a laceration hazard. Read More

Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney appears to be his own jobs creation machine. He’s planning to quadruple the size of his La Jolla, Calif., home. If his zoning request is accepted, he’ll raze his 3,009 sq. ft. house and replace it with an 11,062 sq. ft. manse. Read More

We’ve noticed that basic black is the kitchen color du jour. Read More

Universal design, also known as aging-in-place, is the Lord Voldemort of home remodeling: The modifications-that-must-not-be-named because many home owners think grab bars and curbless showers throw old age in their still-smooth faces. Read More

Remember last year’s stink bug infestation that invaded homes and damaged the Mid-Atlantic’s apple crop? Theeeeey’re baaack. Read More

OK. It’s not really complicated or a secret: Great neighbors make great neighborhoods. Read More

Summer’s triple-digit heat is threatening to fry the trees and shrubs you’ve spent all year tending. Read More

Wild birds are our backyard buddies: A swallow can eat a thousand mosquitoes daily; and watching birds glide and listening to their songs can soothe our jangled nerves. Read More

Unless you’re into back-breaking tedium, weeding isn’t your idea of summer fun. But like many home maintenance jobs, the right tool can make this garden chore less grueling. Read More

If you’re manicuring your yard with STIHL gas-powered machines with “toolless“ caps, put down the hedge trimmer and return it to an authorized dealer. In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, STIHL is recalling 2.3 million yard power tools with toolless fuel caps. The caps, designed to be opened easily by hand, may not fit correctly and pose a fire risk. Read More

Father’s Day is Sunday. And you’re wondering how to thank the guy who taught you to wield a putty knife, and to shut the door and quit heating/cooling the outside — for crying out loud! Read More

If you have big dreams for a vegetable garden, but only a little space, plant intensively — a cheek-by-jowl, double-digging growing technique that yields two to six times the harvest of traditional vegetable gardens. Read More

Is it getting cooler, shadier, and less buggy on your patio and deck already? We hope so, because all week we’ve been helping you take back the outside with heat-beating misters, shade-makers, and bug fighters. Read More

This week we’ve been helping you make patios and decks more comfortable during hot and humid days. Today, we’re focusing on how to prevent ants (try Cream of Wheat), yellow jackets, and mosquitoes from ruining your outdoor fun this summer. Read More

If you prefer a drier cool, as opposed to the misters we mentioned yesterday, read on to find some quick ways to make some shade. Plus, get some tips on getting shade with some quick-growing trees. Read More

Your outdoor entertainment area can become a horror show in summer. Heat, sun, bugs, and noisy/nosy neighbors can drive you inside when you should be watching fireflies from your patio or deck. Read More

Poisonous plants may look good in your landscape, but they can harm children and pets. Here are alternatives that help curb appeal but don’t harm little ones. Read More

Home improvement trends embrace energy efficiency, low maintenance exteriors, and double-duty space. Read More

For a gardener, there is no greater bliss than cooking compost, and no greater loss than leaving that time-intensive rot behind when we downsize, upsize, or move for a new job. Read More

Check out these five unusual ways to feel green in the bathroom. Read More

Your backyard compost pile produces enough heat to cook breakfast, lunch, and dinner…eventually. Are you brave enough to cook food in garbage like these folks did? Read More

Inspect your HVAC system twice a year and head off costly problems. We’ll walk you through heating and air conditioning inspections you can do yourself. Read More

Inspect windows and doors regularly to stop air leaks and water seeps that create high energy and repair bills. We’ll show you how. Read More

The correct drywall tools will easily repair the cracks and holes that inevitably appear in your walls. Here’s a look at the drywall tools that will do the job. Read More

Basic electrical tools will save you money on simple repairs and should be in every home owner’s toolbox. Read More

In the world of landscape tools, these are the basic pieces of equipment you must have to improve and maintain your property. Read More

Sooner or later you’re going to paint something; you might as well have the correct tools. Here are the tools that should be in your painting toolbox. Read More

Stock these plumbing tools in your home toolbox so you can fix sinks, toilets, and other plumbing problems that may arise. Read More

As the U.S. phases out incandescent lightbulbs, we look back at the light of our lives, and look forward to new generations of CFLs and LEDs. Read More