Most homeowners have a hate-hate relationship with their exhaust fans, be it the one in the bathroom or the one in the kitchen, and as a result they are seldom used. Exhaust fans are designed to remove moisture, grease and particulates from your … read more

Tossing aside the old adage of “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas,” this is too good not to share. Needless to say, with 650,000 square feet of contracted display space, 1,500 vendors, 75,000 attendees and sold-out presentations, there were undeniable signs that … read more

This spring, I had a chance to spend some quality time with an energy-efficiency consultant, who also happens to be my brother-in-law. But that’s neither here nor there. Anyway, I was able to pick his expert mind about what average homeowners can do … read more

Light, be it natural or artificial, impacts productivity, safety, moods, as well as the sense of aesthetics. You can design a beautiful home or landscaped yard but if it is not properly illuminated, it may all be for not. The following is an … read more

According to the color experts at pantone, Radiant Orchid is uplifting and bold without being overpowering, re-energizing almost any color palette and providing a unifying element for diverse spaces. They recommend sprucing up interior spaces by incorporating … read more

Universal design (UD) is more than 36-inch-wide doorways, wheelchair ramps and grab bars. It is a method of designing and building spaces so that they are accessible and safe for people of all physical and cognitive abilities. Often mistakenly referred to as aging-in-place, … read more

Denise Hegge was nearly done with a remodel of her Olalla home in 2011 when she woke up one night to a fire. It was a warm August, and some staining rags left in the garage bay ignited, sending a chain reaction through … read more

Maybe it’s karma. Bill Wyman is cool with that as an explanation for the success of his business, Creative Countertops, which marks its 10th anniversary this year. Regardless of how much good karma’s had to do with it, his enterprise has grown over … read more

When a couple of empty-nesters trade the urban asphalt of Southern California for a leafy-green piece of Bainbridge Island, culture shock is guaranteed. Their first job, therefore, is to buy an umbrella, a pair of Birkenstocks and learn the meaning of “frog rock.” … read more