Category: Home Improvement Blogs

Tips for a sustainable school year

Many of us are trying to live more sustainable lifestyles by wasting less, recycling more, and purchasing products made with recycled materials. What about our kids at school? Does back-to-school shopping - which doesn’t really end when the kids ...

Six time-saving kitchen tools

(ARA) – Our lives are busier today than ever before. Trying to balance the demands of work and home life is no easy feat. At home, day-to-day chores like cooking and cleaning easily chip away at precious time that could be better spent on a littl...

How to tackle household chores quickly this fall

(ARA) - As fall approaches, the daylight hours are dwindling, kids are headed back to school, and the lazy days of summer will soon be long forgotten. As you establish new routines, it seems like there are 10 additional tasks to handle each day, and cl...

Working home organization back into the routine

(ARA) - The start of fall means lots of things: changing colors, football season and, for families across the country, back-to-school time. After a summer of carefree living, long days and relaxation, changing gears from fun and sun to homework and spo...

Fall bug prevention basics

(ARA) - The cooler weather signals squirrels to store away nuts, birds to fly south and leaves to fall from trees, but cooler weather also means that bugs will be looking for a comfy, cozy place to spend the winter. Unfortunately, your house fits that ...

How to create the perfect outdoor retreat

(ARA) - Backyards have always been places where families can get away without actually going away. Outdoor areas connect people with their favorite natural treasures while providing a place to relax. Whether it's adding an outdoor kitchen and replacing...

How to help your garden survive a drought

(ARA) - For many American gardeners, 2012 has not been a kind year. Most of the Midwest is dealing with one of the worst droughts on record. And while the Midwest is bearing the brunt of the drought this year, other parts of the country have also been ...

DIY projects refresh your space in 1 weekend

(ARA) - Home and style magazines, social media and interior designers on TV are inspiring more homeowners to transform their spaces into places they love. Projects range from renewing your bathtub to refreshing your backyard deck, and can be completed ...

Family-friendly fall food pairings

(ARA) - From fresh harvests to flavorful spices, the fall season is full of opportunity, especially when it comes to the foods we eat. With a little creativity, enjoying classic fall flavors can be delicious, fun and easy for the entire family. Here ar...

New mobile app puts flooring in hand

(ARA) - Applications for smartphones and tablets are everywhere today. And more than ever, people are using these applications to save time and money while finding that perfect product to enhance their busy lives. In 2011, there were almost 1.2 billio...

Cook up a whole new look for your kitchen

(ARA) - We spend hours in the kitchen socializing, keeping the family organized, and, of course, cooking and eating. As the center of the home's activities, the kitchen should be as fun as it is functional. With just a few supplies and a free weekend, ...

Creating the perfect master suite retreat

(ARA) - The master bedroom is the ideal place to take refuge from reality - and when it comes to creating the perfect bedroom and bath, casual and comfortable retreats are more appealing than formal, model-home-like spaces. The right color palettes, fu...

Tabletop gardens are edible centerpieces

(ARA) - With spring arriving earlier this season, gardeners across the country are inspired to plant now. Daydreams of fresh produce used in delicious sauces, salads and stir fries have many drawing garden plot plans and even starting seeds for future ...

Sign of the design times for kitchens

The number of kitchen styles and design options for homeowners to consider during the building and remodeling process is enough to make a person go crazy. Avoid feeling overwhelmed by simplifying your options. Keep an eye on trends Traditional? Transitional? Contemporary? The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) recently surveyed more than 350 designers to identify …

Easy tips to create a relaxing experience at home

(ARA) - In our fast-paced and chaotic lives, we're always seeking ways to relax and de-stress from the day. For some, that means watching a favorite TV show, having a nice glass of wine, or even a message at the spa, but we often forget about our homes...

A baker’s dozen: 13 must-have products for a cook’s kitchen

Just because it’s five o’clock doesn’t mean the workday is over. In fact, 84 percent of women and 67 percent of men, on average, do some sort of household activities, such as housework and cooking, every day. With so much time spent in the kitchen, there are certain tools that you just shouldn’t live without: especially …