TheRepublic.com - Home & Garden News

Yardsmart: Have it made in the shade

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:17:05 -0400

By MAUREEN GILMER - You, too, can have it made in the shade this summer.

Treasures: Does glass pitcher reflect dollar signs...

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:17:18 -0400

By HELAINE FENDELMAN and JOE ROSSON - Dear Helaine and Joe:

Interiors: Under-counter ice makers can be so cool

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:17:27 -0400

By ROSEMARY SADEZ FRIEDMANN - Well, here I am trying to help people furnish and decorate their houses to make their homes comfortable, pleasant, attractive and fun to live in. That is how I want your house to be and that is what I want my house to be. So far, all is well in the house, but then something breaks and needs either fixing or replacing -- like my under-counter ice maker.

Homefix: Repairing a drafty window

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:19:02 -0400

By DWIGHT BARNETT - Q: Every winter the windows in my home are so cold that I have to place blankets over them to keep the room warm. The windows are in a 1950s home and there are storm windows, but there is such a draft around the windows that I have to keep the rooms closed off. What I can do myself?

Home Style: Five great spots for an ottoman

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:19:13 -0400

By MARY CAROL GARRITY - Here's how I wake up every morning: I pour myself a big cup of coffee, then settle into my favorite chair with my feet propped up on an ottoman. As the caffeine works its magic, I go over the day's activities until I'm fully awake and ready to get at it. I think of that ottoman as my daily launching pad, proof that these relatively small pieces of furniture can play a big role in home decor -- and life. Here are five of my favorite places to use ottomans:

Hobbies: A ribbon wreath

Tue, 21 May 2013 04:17:08 -0400

By SANDI GENOVESE - I seem to accumulate ribbon scraps.

Plumber: Looking for a good plumber

Tue, 21 May 2013 04:18:15 -0400

By ED DEL GRANDE - Q: I need to have a new toilet installed, and the plumber I have used in the past is no longer in business. I'm looking for a good plumber who will be fair with his price and will do quality work. Can you give me some tips to keep in mind when I start the search for my new plumber?

Too much house is too much of a headache

Tue, 21 May 2013 04:18:24 -0400

By DAN DEWITT - I wasn't a total sucker.

Turning reclaimed wood into furniture

Tue, 21 May 2013 04:19:16 -0400

By LIZABETH GRAY - Three years ago, a visionary project called the Urban Tree Forge almost toppled with the death of founder John Metzler. It could have disappeared altogether if not for others who shared his passion for trees.

101 Ideas: Growing fruit trees in containers

Tue, 21 May 2013 04:20:05 -0400

Even if you have limited space, you can still enjoy fresh fruit. Although not all fruit trees thrive in containers for long periods, you can grow any fruit tree in a container for a few years and then transplant it. You can also choose a dwarf variety, which is well-suited to living in a container. - Some of the most popular dwarf citrus trees to grow in containers are:

Yardsmart: Drip irrigation system requires upkeep...

Mon, 13 May 2013 16:22:14 -0400

By MAUREEN GILMER - Murphy's law prevails, so don't assume last year's drip system is ready for your spring garden. Devoting just an hour to checking its components before you plant can ensure this year's crop is better than ever.

Home Style: Create artful displays with collections

Mon, 13 May 2013 15:19:24 -0400

By MARY CAROL GARRITY - Decorating with your collections is a wonderful way to weave your personality into your decor and make your home a unique expression of your life and interests. Here are tips I use to create displays with my collections.

Candice Tells All: Basement fireplace becomes focal point...

Mon, 13 May 2013 15:19:32 -0400

(Editors: New Candice Tells All content is expected to be available again later in the year. For the time being, we are resending previous columns every other week. This column originally ran May 14, 2012. This redistribution includes minor additional editing.) - Hui Anne and Stephen's basement is a multifunctional space that does triple duty as office, TV room and playroom. Their family room is spacious, but it had way too much going on, and none of it was working. When you walked in, you just didn't know where to look -- there were distractions everywhere. The room had become a repository for old, mismatched furniture and storage boxes. But the space had huge potential, and I focused on creating a stylish yet hardworking room, perfect for this young family.

Treasures: Will Barrymore prints bring fame, fortune?

Mon, 13 May 2013 14:18:55 -0400

By HELAINE FENDELMAN and JOE ROSSON - Dear Helaine and Joe: I would appreciate your opinion on the enclosed pictures. Could they possibly be by THE Lionel Barrymore? They are brass (I guess) etchings that I purchased many years ago at a household auction. They are very attractive, but do they have any value? -- J. R., Everglades City, Fla.

Outdoor 'fire features' are this year's must-have...

Mon, 13 May 2013 13:51:45 -0400

By DEBBIE ARRINGTON - Water's cool, but now, fire's hot.

Plumber: Time to pull the plug on leaky tub

Mon, 13 May 2013 13:51:54 -0400

By ED DEL GRANDE - Q: My old cast-iron bathtub is badly stained, and it leaks around the drain. Plus, the three-handle mixing valve used to fill the tub constantly drips. I found a do-it-yourself resurfacing spray kit, and can try to fix all the leaks, or should I bite the bullet and get a contractor to rip it out and start from scratch? If so, what are my replacement choices? -- Jean, Ohio

HomeFix: Adding door is just first step in creating room...

Mon, 13 May 2013 13:54:12 -0400

By DWIGHT BARNETT - Q: We listed our home as having four bedrooms. After it was inspected, we were informed we could list only three bedrooms because the room over the garage did not have a door. This has lowered the value of the home. If we were to add a door, could we again list the home as having four bedrooms?

101 Ideas: How to take care of oak trees

Mon, 13 May 2013 13:54:03 -0400

Although oaks are relatively easy to care for, a few tips will help keep them happy and healthy - Oaks live so long and have such appeal in the landscape that planting one becomes a good investment -- one that will outlive the house itself if a few special needs are met.

Interiors: Update master bathroom to create relaxing...

Mon, 13 May 2013 13:54:20 -0400

By ROSEMARY SADEZ FRIEDMANN - The master bathroom is usually a haven for refreshing and relaxing yourself in the privacy and comfort of your own personal space. Of all the bathrooms in the house, the master bath is the most important and should be the most elaborate as far as comfort is concerned. Here are some tips for decorating that room.

Gardener: Proactive pest management can keep your garden...

Mon, 13 May 2013 13:54:29 -0400

By JOE LAMP'L - My strategy for how I deal with many challenges in the garden and landscape is one of "wait and see," starting with the lowest impact first. Taking the path of least impact first is a sound strategy if you have the time and patience. My father taught me as a young boy that for every action, there is a reaction. With pesticides, that scenario is certainly played out every day. In our attempt to deal with even a single pest problem aggressively, we create a potential chain reaction that extends beyond the intended consequences.