What does your winter garden look like? We find that gardens become a bit of a dumping ground between November and February. But sometimes the light catches the bark of a silver birch, or the frost outlines dying seedheads. It is so poignantly beautiful that we realize how much winter has to offer gardens. Gardens…

Did you know your home’s design can affect your bank account and love life? Try these feng shui tips based on the ancient art of balancing energy. Put Furniture Legs on Rugs “Never put all your furniture against the walls,” says Karen Rauch Carter, feng shui consultant and author of Move Your Stuff, Change Your…

There are plenty of reasons to attend open houses, whether or not you are looking to buy. Here are eight reasons to check out those weekend open houses near you. 1. Get to know your local housing market before you sell.  Simply attending a few open houses in your neighborhood can give you an education…

Adding nature, via plants, has always been a popular way to help spruce  up a home for sale. But Pantone’s 2017 choice for Color of the Year wants you using the color of nature in a bolder way in the new year. Pantone named Greenery its 2017 Color of the Year. The tangy yellow-green hue…

If you have plain old stairs, a runner can make a statement and soften your footsteps. Runners made of woven cotton are affordable and easy to work with, and they range in style from beachy to baroque; here, we chose heathered stripes to complement a cottage-style interior. To simplify the job, This Old House senior…

Over the next five years, home prices are expected to appreciate 3.24% per year on average and to grow by 21.4% cumulatively, according to Pulsenomics’ most recent Home Price Expectation Survey. So, what does this mean for homeowners and their equity position? As an example, let’s assume a young couple purchases and closes on a…

Another year is almost behind us, so it’s high time you prepared for the upcoming one. If you’ve already started making plans for the year of 2017, don’t forget to come up with a wishlist of home upgrades you can implement with little investment. Instead of giving your entire home a complete makeover, you can…

Before: Plain Jane With overgrown landscaping and a disappear-into-the-background white paint color, this California bungalow was generally considered one of the least attractive homes on the block. Narrow, winding stairs and an overgrown trumpet vine and small tree that block the front door add to the home’s uncared-for look. After: Colorful Cottage To make the…

The price of any item (including residential real estate) is determined by ‘supply and demand’. If many people are looking to buy an item and the supply of that item is limited, the price of that item increases. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the supply of homes for sale dramatically increases every spring. As an…

A kitchen is often described as the heart and soul of the home, and for good reason. This is an area that is often used for family gatherings, for entertaining friends and for everyday living. You may begin mornings talking to your family in the kitchen about plans for the day, and you may end…