Porcelain tile: Harder than granite By Tresa Erickson You’re in the middle of remodeling your entryway. Gone are the crusty old wallpaper, tarnished brass light fixtures and soiled carpet. In their place are a warm shape of taupe, classic rubbed bronze fixtures, and…well, you haven’t quite got to the flooring yet. You’re leaning toward tile, […]

Fresco faux finish By Tresa Erickson Do you adore fresco? Do you wish you could recreate the look of it in your home? Well, lucky for you, you can. With some glaze and paint, you can turn your walls into fresco. Before starting this project, you need to tape off your trim and any areas […]

Bright once again By Tresa Erickson Got some old tile in your home? Chances are some of the grout has become stained and dirty over time, especially if it is white. White grout tends to yellow with age and become stained. Many homeowners choose to replace their old discolored grout, but before you go that […]

Brick cracked? No problem. By Tresa Erickson You have a lot of exposed brick in your home. You love the character it brings to your space, but recently, you noticed that one of the bricks has a huge crack in it and is starting to crumble. You really need to take care of the matter […]

Helpful painting steps By the Paint Quality Institute Prior experience is essential when tackling many home improvement projects. But not so with interior painting. Even first-time painters can get super results when painting their newly purchased house, condo or apartment…and have a lot of fun in the process. Whether personalizing an entire new living space […]

Ceiling fans save energy all year long Gas and energy prices are rising again, and that means Americans must tighten their belts even further. You don’t need to dread hot summer temps and high air conditioning bills when you have ceiling fans – your AC’s best friend! If you already have fans in place, check […]

Thinking about home remodeling: Start here Sooner or later you may join the millions of people who remodel their homes each year. Perhaps it was that moment when you realized that avocado green and harvest gold are no longer the “in” colors for today’s trendy kitchens. Or maybe you had an epiphany one day as […]

Remodels for an aging population NARI remodelers help homeowners plan for multi-generational living It’s a family dynamic affecting the White House and homeowners across the country: seniors moving in with their adult children, and with it families taking on home remodels. President Barack Obama’s mother-in-law, Marian Robinson, 71, moved into 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. to help […]

With markets down, homeowners turn to phased remodeling Whole-house remodels get turned into serial projects Residential remodels are no longer those once-in-a-lifetime projects that keep homeowners dreaming years on end before they ever pick up a hammer. Instead, many homeowners opt to do a series of remodels as their schedules, budgets and lifestyles evolve over […]

An invitation for the 2009 Christmas in the Valley parade To participate in the Christmas in the Valley parade and help celebrate the spirit of Christmas throughout the River Valley communities, let’s all join in the fun and support this regional community celebration. WHEN: Sunday, December 6. Parade starts promptly at 2 p.m. RAIN, SNOW […]