Home and garden

Each week, I extract homeowners just like you from horrible encounters with contractors. I do this via a short consultation phone or video call. The situations range from faulty roofing work and new cracked or spalling concrete to wet basements and shoddy tile work. The common denominator in every situation is misplaced trust. The homeowner trusted that the contractor would install this or that correctly. More often than not, they do not.

Looking for a way to create interiors that feel calm, timeless and beautifully layered? Soft hues like powder pink, powder blue, pale yellow and soft gray are subtle yet powerful colors in a designer’s toolbox. These colors bring just enough personality to a space without overwhelming it, striking that perfect balance between serenity and sophistication. Whether you’re aiming for a modern ...

One of the biggest ways to gain equity in your home is a kitchen remodel. Gutting the entire kitchen and getting brand new cabinets and countertops, though, is expensive. For more homeowners, that’s a remodel you save up for years for. You may not want to deal with the challenge of living through an entire kitchen remodel, either, where your fridge spends a few weeks in your dining room and ...

Fall is one of my favorite times of year. The colorful leaves falling from the trees signal the end of the growing season. The sun is casting longer shadows and the days are getting shorter. Between the sun’s golden light and the colorful fall leaves, it’s a magical time of year.

When Jenni Kayne started her namesake label back in 2002, she envisioned it as an all-encompassing lifestyle brand. She strove to follow in the footsteps of American designers who were household names, like Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein and Donna Karan.

I’m willing to wager a two-step hot fudge sundae made with mocha chip ice cream that you struggle to get the glass in and around your home perfectly clean. I’m talking crystal-clear glass that looks invisible. It might be glasses you drink from, the windows in your home, the glass in French doors, mirrors, your automotive glass and so forth.

It’s been a good tomato season this year, and reports are that tomatoes are replacing the venerable zucchini overload when it comes to giving produce away. But as we get into the end of September, and the nighttime temperatures start dropping below 55 degrees, tomatoes won’t set any more fruit and it’s time to get what’s still on the plants ripe before the first frost.

Dust is many things. At its most elemental, dust is a blend of dead skin, hair, fibers from clothing and other textiles, soil, pollen, dander, insect corpses, dust mites. Dust can be a health hazard, especially for those with respiratory or skin conditions that are irritated by the presence of all those fine particulates. Dust is also gross (again, dead skin and insect corpses). And then there is this: Dust is sneaky.

Last weekend, I had the good fortune to show my son how to install wood baseboard and interior door casing. We’re in the final stages of finishing over 1,000 square feet of living space in the basement of his three-year-old home. We only work on Saturdays because of his job constraints, and Sunday is a day of worship and rest for me.

Looking for a way to bring instant energy, warmth, and personality into your space? Consider the beauty of fruit colors. Think lemon, lime, raspberry and orange — these juicy hues can transform a neutral room into a vibrant and inviting space with a robust and appealing “punch” of color. Looking for ways to infuse fruit inspired colors? First, choose a color for inspiration. --Orange brings ...

Have I got some good news for those of you who are dreading fall garden clean up. You don’t have to do as much as you think and in doing so, you will support the survival of all kinds of pollinators, birds and small critters.

I’ve been helping several single women for the past few years. One has been featured in this column at least once in the past year. I’m pleased to report that she’s gaining confidence and tackling projects on her own now. My late father-in-law’s saying rings true: “Nothing builds success like success.”

When Jorge Mejia closed on his $445,000 town house in suburban Atlanta this month, he didn’t celebrate with Champagne or steak. Standing in his empty kitchen, he took a picture of a pepperoni pizza in its cardboard delivery box framed by his new house keys and a bare living room floor, and then proudly posted it to Reddit.

A gloomy, cloudy day makes you suddenly realize your home may be lacking in lighting. Whether your home is 100 years old or a brand-new build, we often aren’t using enough lighting. According to Kellie Burke of Kellie Burke Interiors, lighting is not just crucial, but critical in your home. “During new construction, the majority of people do whatever the architect or builder suggests, which is ...

A couple of months ago, my husband and I swapped out the dated wall-to-wall greige carpet in our Colorado home for something more stylish, at least from a distance: luxury vinyl plank. And while I risk being shamed for saying it, I must admit that I miss the carpet.

Landscaping is one of the most effective ways to elevate your home’s curb appeal. Whether you’re starting from scratch or refreshing existing elements, showing your landscape a little love can go a long way.

Summer is slowly fading away, and it’s time to plan for the fall gardening season. Temperatures will eventually start dropping as we get into September, but the ground will stay warm for a few more weeks that will help new plantings settle in.

In a culture that equates success with expansion, learning to contract intentionally may be one of the most radical acts we can perform. I am best known for urging people to grow more of their own food, yet at this stage in my life, I am discovering the wisdom in growing less – and with it, lessons about what each season of life requires.

Whether you are doing a small renovation or just purchased your dream home, the kitchen is typically “the heart of the home.”