Whether your project is big or small project and whether you’re building or remodeling, hiring a skilled and professional contractor is a big deal. When interviewing, there are many basic questions to ask. There are some questions I rarely hear yet they should … read more

On a recent Friday, I was just getting ready to leave my office when the phone rang. I picked it up and heard the upset voice of a client who had been in a home just 10 months. The client had experienced a … read more

A home redesign doesn’t always have to involve demolition work and remapping of the floor plan. Sometimes changing the smaller things in a home can make a world of difference. One Fox Island couple steered clear of the more traditional sense of a … read more

After the severe decline in this year’s snowpack, Gov. Jay Inslee declared a statewide drought in May. By July, runoff from snowpack had disappeared and 83 percent of the state’s streams and rivers were reported running at below normal or record low flows. … read more

I stumbled across a marathon recently of a TV show called “First Time Flippers” on the DIY Network. I was mesmerized, and not in a good way. Fred and Mary (names have been changed to protect the “innocent”) have day jobs and buy … read more

With the changing of seasons, often comes some cleanup around the house. Perhaps you have a large amount of yard debris, a lawnmower that has “kicked the bucket,” some leftover lawn fertilizer that you don’t want to keep through the winter, or — … read more

“It looks like a bomb went off in my closet!” This is how many homeowners describe their closets. Is it too many clothes and shoes or is it lack of organization? Honestly, it is typically a bit of both. Although designers and residential … read more

Things under foot not noticed, things everywhere that no attention is paid to, things taken for granted that could easily be kicked aside, thrown in the trash or lay dormant on a back shelf — we’re talking about old jars. A kitchen jar … read more

As the seasons shift from summer to fall, you can begin looking forward to warm flavors and fresh inspiration. Below are two recipes from the Wilton Test Kitchen, which created new takes on favorite comfort foods inspired by the 2015 Baking and Decorating … read more