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Ceiling heights often look best when they are in proportion to the overall room size.  If, for example, you have a 12-foot by 12-foot den with 9-foot high ceiling just off the entry foyer, and a 16-foot by 20-foot great room beyond the den, then an 11- or 12-foot high ceiling in that larger great…

Have you ever driven through a residential neighborhood late at night and been surprised to see garage doors that have been inadvertently left up? It happens more than you may think! For a small fee, and a lot of peace of mind, a garage door monitor will tell you whether the garage doors are shut.…

Without question, front porches can have a huge impact on curb appeal. Porch popularity soared in the last decade, but many of these porches were merely ornamental-not really deep enough for furniture or the classic porch swing. If your dream home includes a front porch where you’ll spend time with family and friends, look for…

A zero-step entry into your home so that your home welcomes people of all physical abilities, at the time the home is being built, costs $100 to $200 according to Bradley University. As published in Her Home Magazine, retrofitting an existing home to have a zero-step entry averages $3,300. That’s $100 to $200 well-spent-and you’ll…

Walk into a master bath and there’s one, maybe two light switches. On/off…that’s it. Light bar over a mirror and another light over the tub or shower. Pure function. A guy must have designed that arrangement, because a woman knows better! Wall sconces, directional lights and proper lighting for putting on make-up are important considerations.…

If you’re young, have recently moved out of your parent’s house, recently got married, or are on a budget chances are you’re looking for cheap and easy ways to decorate your home this holiday season. In the following you will find ideas and tips on how to make the most out of your on-budget holiday…

Next time you drive down your street, pay close attention to the garage doors used. They’re probably all pretty much the same-16 or 32-raised panels. Predictable. Boring. The homes in your neighborhood don’t all look the same, so why should the garage doors? An attractive garage door can actually enhance your home’s street appeal and…

Previously, you may remember one of my rants about having the washer and dryer located in the mudroom as you come in from the garage (makes the laundry room cold in the winter, often dirty and smelly, and you have to be reminded of it (or embarrassed by it) every time you come in from the…

  Chances are you have a base cabinet where you keep cookiesheets, the pizza stone, cutting board, pie plates and other relatively thin, vertical accessories. That’s a “win” for storage, but organization is often overlooked. Tray dividers typically attach (screw in) to the cabinet base and separate the cabinet space into more usable sections. In…

. . . disposal.  Garbage disposals may not be very high on your priority list with a kitchen remodel or in building a new home. Sure you’ve got to have one. One’s included? Check that off the list and move on. But did you know there are some big differences among these food waste disposers?…