I recently discovered that if you are renter, like me, one of the easiest ways to make a space feel more personal is to change the light fixture. It can change the overall mood of a room and it also gives you the opportunity to select the kind of light you want in your home. Of course, in my case, the change was extreme as we only had bare bulbs to begin with, but it's incredible how a relatively simple task can make such a difference!

More

Tired of ugly faceplates cluttering up your freshly painted wall? They stick out like a sore thumb after all the hard work we've done in designing and styling our homes. Here are a few great options to clean up the look of your home! More

I recently worked with a client who told me he wanted to incorporate his collection of vintage telegraph insulators into a new project. I'll be honest, I had no idea what they were, but after a little research I completely understood his fascination with these colorful glass gems. More

In search of the perfect bedside fixture I've developed a minor obsession with task lights. Versatile and sleek, they are a great fit for the bedroom. For a little eye candy, check out this collection of bedrooms from our house tours. And if you're not convinced, read on for a few reasons why a task light might be the bedside solution you've been searching for... More

We first showed you this modern new smoke alarm a few years ago, but the Kidde Silhouette is now an affordable and more widely available option for your next renovation project. (I'm actually considering swapping out our newish but clunky alarms for these beauties!) More

By now, it is fairly common knowledge that devices that are left plugged in continue to use electricity even when powered off. While its a good policy to unplug devices that are not in use, there are times when that is just not possible, particularly when charging devices like batteries or electric toothbrushes that you might leave to charge when you ar not at home.
More

Renovating can be a pretty daunting task for anyone, and trying to find the greenest options can make it even more challenging. If you're feeling a bit overwhelmed by the task ahead these 10 tips could help streamline your 'to do' list. More

I've lived in some doozies of apartments with the gamut of landlord specials: caked-on paint, leaky steampipes, clanging radiators.

Another feature that was a standard for every single one of them: ugly old light switches. So I learned a trick, and I carried it with me (literally) to each consecutive apartment: More

This week I wrapped up my first bathroom renovation. (Well, almost.) Having never done a bathroom renovation I didn’t really know what I was getting into. I remember thinking, how much could it really cost? This room is tiny! For today’s post I am going to outline all of my costs from start to finish. I realize that each bathroom comes with its own challenges and issues and this is simply one experience. More

Last week, Susan gave us an excellent guide for How To Hire a Contractor where she praises the benefits of word-of-mouth in finding the right contractor. In addition to word of mouth, she mentions several excellent online resources. Next time you have to hire a handyman, plumber, electrician or any kind of tradesman or contractor consider these sites: More