Online Features
Home Improvement
Upgrading your kitchen from 'blah' to 'bling' for less
To design a kitchen that meets the multiple needs of today's modern family, including standing up to its daily wear and tear without breaking the bank, homeowners can transform their kitchens with a few tips and tricks from interior design experts and companies that have created more durable and affordable yet equally be...
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Simple tips for completing a DIY home project on time and on budget
We are in the midst of a do-it-yourself revolution, with more Americans pulling out the tool belt and getting their hands dirty. If you'd like to hop on the DIY bandwagon and enjoy the money savings and pride that comes with completing a project yourself, it's important to keep some tips in mind so your grand ideas don't...
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Stay warm this winter: home heating tips for tricky spaces
When cold winds blow, it can be tricky to keep different rooms throughout your home at the right temperature - especially if you have old and drafty windows, tight spaces or room additions to work around. It can also be challenging to ensure economical comfort without having to do a major heating system overhaul. Yet the...
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Button-up your home for winter
As the leaves turn and fall to the ground, it's time to start thinking about "buttoning up" your home for winter to keep you and your family healthy and comfortable, your belongings safe and high energy costs at bay.
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Boomers: Shifting household needs create home design opportunities
Boomers expect to stay in their homes and live independently into their later years, but in the midst of change that is occurring in their households, it's easy for them to lose focus on planning for their own future housing needs. By following the principles of universal design - what's good for people of all ages, size...
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Year-round backyard safety tips for families
Your backyard is a space where you enjoy quality time with your family - from running around with your kids in the fall leaves to playing catch with your furry friend in the snow. It's a place to escape, but remember accidents can happen anywhere at any time, and just like you childproof your house, you need to ensure y...
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Boost your home's curb appeal for a quicker sale
Selling a home in today's market requires a bit of marketing, some sweat and elbow grease, and a touch of luck. But even in a competitive selling market, it is possible to turn the sign in your front yard from "For Sale" to "Sold" so you can move on to your next residence.
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Add curb appeal to your home with new exterior trim
When it comes to selling your home, curb appeal means everything. According to the National Association of Realtors, curb appeal sells 49 percent of all homes. And nothing makes a worse initial impression than exterior trim that is peeling, cracked, rotted or falling apart. Replacing old or damaged exterior trim is a gre...
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Eco-friendly tips to protect homes from pesky bugs
Cool weather signals homeowners to finalize outdoor chores and cozy up for the long winter ahead. It also signals pesky insects to head indoors seeking food sources and warm, safe places to hibernate. What can the smart homeowner do?
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DIY with the right footwear
Construction workers don't wear high-heels - and not just because of the questionable fashion statement that might make. Professional builders know how important it is to protect their feet on the job, and you should do the same when undertaking your do-it-yourself home improvement and maintenance projects.
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Upgrade your pest control this fall
Where do bugs enter your home? The short answer: all over. Sometimes they crawl or fly in when windows or doors are open. They also slip in through cracks in walls or foundations, holes in window screens or crevices in the home that let in cables, wires and pipes. Most commonly though, they'll drop right onto your roof a...
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By Alice Mannette MOORE, Oklahoma (Reuters) - A 2-mile-wide (3-km-wide) tornado tore through the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore on Monday, killing at least 51 people while destroying entire tracts of homes, piling cars atop one another, and trapping two dozen school children beneath rubble. Twenty of the 51 confirmed deaths were children, the Oklahoma medical examiner said, and at least 45 of the 230 people injured were children, according to area hospitals. It was the deadliest U.S. tornado since one killed 161 people in Joplin, Missouri, two years ago. ...
By Tabassum Zakaria and Mark Hosenball WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's administration has decided to give the Pentagon control of some drone operations against terrorism suspects overseas that are currently run by the CIA, several U.S. government sources said on Monday. Obama has pledged more transparency on controversial counterterrorism programs, and giving the Pentagon the responsibility for part of the drone program could open it to greater congressional oversight. ...
By Richard Weizel WESTPORT, Connecticut (Reuters) - Connecticut rail commuters endured crowded and rerouted rides in to work on Monday, as Metro-North worked to repair the busiest U.S. rail line after a two-train collision and derailment injured more than 70 people late last week. Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy said commuters should expect "serious disruptions," and encouraged riders to stay home if possible as repair crews worked to fix or replace more than 2,000 feet of track as well as overhead wires and other equipment. ...