If you’re the type of homeowner who loves to lavish a little TLC on your home in the form of some smart renovations, the question remains: What are the very best home improvements to make? Whether you’re looking for a great return on investment or just something you’ll enjoy without breaking your back or bank account, check out this

Homeowners love obsessing over every inch of their kitchens, from backsplashes to their Sub-Zero fridge. Yet one home improvement you should ponder more carefully is right beneath your feet: the flooring. What’s the best kitchen flooring to have in your home? The truth is there are many types and varieties of kitchen flooring, and each

If your home has a kitchen, odds these days are you have a kitchen island, or you’re pining for one. Pining hard! What started as a clever way to add extra counter space has morphed into so much more. And it’s evolving at a breakneck pace. In case you are poised to make some kitchen upgrades soon

Do you want a 3D design of your dream kitchen remodel or a drawing scribbled on paper? Not all remodeling consultations come with the same scope of service, so before you agree to a consultation for your remodeling job, make sure to understand what you’ll get. Is the consultation a telephone call? A visit? Both?

Renovating your home can sometimes make you feel like you’ve gone off the grid—and not in a fun, life-affirming way. When you lose the use of your stove and/or refrigerator, meals devolve into an endless slog of takeout, which gets old and expensive fast. I’ve been there: During a recent kitchen renovation in my home, my trusty kitchen appliances were moved out to our

Learn whether your contractor needs to follow a new OSHA rule for silica hazards. If they create dust, they probably do. What remodeling jobs require silica protection? Jobs where silica dust is airborne only briefly do not fall under the rule. Workers generate airborne silica for hours to reach the OSHA regulations’ limit. The most likely

With temperatures (finally!) dropping, many of us crank up the heat at home—but a higher electrical bill isn’t the only danger we face. Winter is the prime season for house fires: Nearly a third of all total-loss house fires occur in the months of December, January, and February, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Even scarier? The average

Our bedrooms may be our private retreat from all of life’s stresses, but let’s face it: Most of the time, this place is just a mess. We pray people won’t pop their heads in there to witness the piles of clothes, the cluttered nightstands, the unmade beds. But it doesn’t have to be that way—all you might need is a little

Create a small-scale, smooth-functioning hub with savvy space planning and chic style.   Kitchens have morphed into multifunctional hubs where families gather to cook, entertain, pay bills, plan schedules, do homework and watch TV. But not everyone has enough square footage to serve all those functions and circulate comfortably. Some kitchens, particularly those in walkable

One year all-white is all the rage; the next, it’s all about shadowy tones. Home design trends come and go (remember Hollywood Regency?), but one that by definition is meant for the long haul is universal design. What is universal design, you ask? In a nutshell, it’s a home that’s set up to be accessible