Online Features
Home Improvement
Tips for choosing the right water heater for your home
(BPT) - If all is working well, most homeowners put little thought into their water heater. But when this critical appliance fails, it can be a nightmare that halts a home’s productivity completely. With no hot water for washing dishes and clothes - let alone for bathing - homeowners are left scrambling to find a new wa...
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Keeping the family and the house warm with fireplace inserts
It’s a wonderful feeling to come inside on a cold day and warm your hands by the fireplace. But let’s face it: most people simply don’t use the traditional wood-burning fireplaces of old. With all the cutting, splitting, hauling and storage, wood-burning fireplaces can be a lot of work. They fill the home with unhealth...
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DIY home improvement fixes to create a healthier home
(BPT) - You might not be aware that your home may pose some hidden risks for you and your family. But you don't need a fat budget to give your home a safer and healthier boost. After all, there is nothing more important than keeping your family safe. Hazards may be lurking in your home, and for $100 or less, you can ma...
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Decorative ceilings add style to a basement remodel
In planning a basement remodel, your goal is to carve out living space that feels comfortable and looks like a natural extension of your home. As you explore design ideas for your basement remodeling project , make sure to include a new basement ceiling. While drywall is always an option, suspended ceilings offer many ...
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How to truly make your patio an extension of your home
(BPT) - If you’re like many homeowners, you consider the patio an extension of your home. So it’s fair to ask: Would you be just as comfortable nestled in with your favorite book or preparing a meal in your outdoor space as you would in your living room or your kitchen? As you contemplate ways to improve your outdoor ar...
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Use luxury and glamour to create an affordable bathroom spa setting
(BPT) - There are showers, and then there are luxurious “showering experiences,” that wake you up in the morning, and refresh you after a long day of work. It’s one thing to enjoy a spa-like setting when actually in a spa, and paying spa prices, and another thing to know you can saunter into a spa each and every day in ...
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Use the winter months to update and beautify your bathroom
(BPT) - Remodeling and refreshing the home is a great way to keep cabin fever at bay during long winter months. Designing a bathroom remodel to incorporate innovative style, comfort and efficiency helps to speed the winter months along, and your family will certainly enjoy the rest of the season with a beautiful new bat...
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Ten lucky home decor trends for 2013
(BPT) - Despite its negative reputation, the number 13 doesn’t always have to be unlucky. Take these top 10 decor trends for 2013 from design experts, manufacturers and trend forecasters across the country. They’re fresh, fun and sure to bring good fortune to any home. A splash of color Industry leader Pantone’s annua...
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Outside-the-box holiday gifts for inside the home
(BPT) - In the words of a popular Christmas carol, there’s no place like home for the holidays - it’s where family gathers and where long-treasured memories are made. So this year as you begin shopping for those on your list, why not gift something for them and for their abode? There’s something for everyone - for the m...
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Kitchen trends for 2013: 'Revamping kits' offer high-end results
(BPT) - If you’re tired of looking at your outdated kitchen, but feel replacement would be impractical, you’re not alone. In 2013, consumers will be trying to find the beauty in the beast. Projects that help the old look new will be the next big makeover trend – especially in the kitchen where remodeling becomes more pr...
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Five fast home decor updates with fantastic results
(BPT) - With the fast-paced lives people can lead today, often we strive for instant gratification to fit into our busy schedules. So when it comes to home improvement projects, wouldn’t you love an instant update for boring home decor? Fortunately, there are numerous fast fixes that can produce fantastic results. Try t...
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By Marice Richter GRAPEVINE, Texas (Reuters) - The Boy Scouts of America voted on Thursday to lift a century-old ban on openly gay scouts in a major victory for gay rights activists, but the decision means a sea of change for an organization that depends heavily on faith-based groups. More than 60 percent of the group's National Council, comprised of some 1,400 delegates, voted in favor of ending the ban, effective January 1, 2014, the group said in a statement. A prohibition on openly gay adult leaders remains in place. ...
By Jonathan Kaminsky OLYMPIA, Washington (Reuters) - Part of a four-lane freeway bridge over a river in rural Washington state collapsed on Thursday, sending vehicles and drivers tumbling into the frigid water, authorities said. Two of the three people rescued from the river were hospitalized with hypothermia, said Given Kutz, a spokesman for Skagit County in the northern part of the state. There were apparently no fatalities. "They (rescuers) don't expect anyone else (remains) in the water," he said. ...