Home & Garden - chicagotribune.com

Give faded outdoor light fixtures a makeover

By Kathryn Weber, Tribune Media Services — Tue, 21 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

A lot of homes have a common problem: Their exterior light fixtures are worn and faded. Faded fixtures, lamp posts and pendants look bad and kill a home's curb appeal. Here are some tips on ways to restore outdoor lights, and what to look for in new fixtures.

Rediscovering an heirloom

By Patricia Montemurri, Detroit Free Press — Tue, 21 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

They only knew about this once-stately Detroit residence — brick with bay windows and the spacious side yard — from family folklore. They did not know Detroit in its heyday.

Lay a basement subfloor

By Gene and Katie Hamilton, Tribune Media Services — Mon, 20 May 2013 09:30:00 GMT

A sound subfloor is needed when you're laying carpet, vinyl, laminate or engineered hardwood on a cement basement floor so the surface is warm, dry and resilient. DRIcore is a modular system of 2-foot square engineered wood panels bonded to a rigid moisture-resistant polyethylene sheet with molded-in dimples. These dimples create airspace between the cement and subfloor to prevent the transfer of cold air and help dry up condensation. These panels are installed as a floating subfloor and press-fit together without nails or glue.

Child's bathroom: Whimsical, practical choices

By William Hageman, Tribune Newspapers — Mon, 20 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Most bathrooms are designed for adults, which can be problematic for the littlest members of the family.

Readers offer solutions to persistent problems

By Alan J. Heavens, The Philadelphia Inquirer — Sat, 18 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

I get the impression that there are a lot of untrustworthy cats in this country from the number of remedies submitted to me on combating urine odors.

Working art

By Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz , Tribune Newspapers — Sat, 18 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Above his studio, portrait photographer Sandro Miller creates a private universe

When Sandro Miller opened his photography studio in a former CTA bus repair garage, some 23 years ago, he befriended the gang running the rough West Town neighborhood by inviting its members inside to shoot their portraits. In exchange, he said, they protected his building.

All cooped up: a guest cottage for chickens

By William Hageman, Tribune Newspapers — Sat, 18 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Gone are the days when a three-car garage was the ultimate backyard glory

Like underfunded pensions and red-light cameras, the chicken coop is a growing trend in urban America.

4 easy steps make simpler work of tiling

By Mike McClintock, Special to Tribune Newspapers — Sat, 18 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Tiling qualifies as a do-it-yourself project because the materials come in little pieces. It makes a difference. Want to try an 8-foot-long slab of granite at 300 pounds for the kitchen counter? Ummm, maybe not. But once you sort through the shapes, patterns and colors, installing tile breaks down into four manageable stages: Surface prep, layout, setting and grouting.

Hiring subcontractors takes time, know-how

By Mike McClintock, Special to Tribune Newspapers — Sat, 18 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Carpenters used to handle almost every phase of home construction and renovation. That changed with the post-WWII building boom and housing mass production. Since then, building trades have become increasingly specialized. There may be a general contractor in charge, but most of the work is done by subcontractors.

Skylight brings a bit of sunshine indoors

By Mike McClintock, Special to Tribune Newspapers — Sat, 18 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Buildings that let in more light work better for the people inside. Studies in schools retrofitted with large skylights have proved the benefits. Where extra sources are added, light bills go down, as expected, and test scores go up — as much as 25 percent. Even in classrooms with the same amount of light, the ones with natural sources dramatically outscore the ones with bulbs.

Passive, yet powerful houses

By William Hageman, Tribune Newspapers — Sat, 18 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Tightly sealed homes are coming our way — as soon as Americans embrace the greenest building methods yet

The idea of passive house design isn't new. It was first promoted in the early 1990s.

Deal bolsters prospects for stalled marina project

Mary Ellen Podmolik — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:51:59 GMT

A stalled residential marina development in Blue Island has been purchased by a south suburban company that built its name rehabbing foreclosed homes.

Lawn mower startup time: Let's get ready to rumble

By Mike McClintock, Special to Tribune Newspapers — Fri, 17 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

After sitting idle for a year, your lawn mower needs maintenance, even if you prepped it for the winter layover.

The hottest trends in wood flooring

By Leslie Mann, Special to Tribune Newspapers — Fri, 17 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

The popularity of open floor plans has made wood flooring a natural choice for achieving a seamless look.

Feng shui's wealth of choices

By Kathryn Weber, Tribune Media Services — Tue, 14 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Color plays a pivotal role in the Chinese art of placement.

Experiment in seclusion

By Debra Prinzing — Mon, 13 May 2013 17:16:00 GMT

Architect's shoebox home couldn't escape its hemmed-in urban location. After a makeover, it didn't need to.

Architect's shoebox home couldn't escape its hemmed-in urban location. After a makeover, it didn't need to.

How to clean and repair gutters

By Gene and Katie Hamilton, Tribune Media Services — Mon, 13 May 2013 09:30:00 GMT

Keeping gutters and downspouts clean is the first defense against soil erosion.

Bug battle

By William Hageman, Tribune Newspapers — Sat, 11 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Ready your weapons — the insect kingdom makes a full-on assault when the weather turns warmer. Here's how to do away with 6 of the most common pests and turn another into a pet

Back in the day, our cave-dwelling ancestors had to fend off all manner of nasty predators. Evolution has weeded out the worst of them, but humanity still must confront threats from the animal kingdom, though now more pesky than dangerous.

Declutter your life

By Patricia Mertz Esswein — Fri, 10 May 2013 09:30:00 GMT

Donating stuff to charity is all good: You get a warm, fuzzy feeling, someone else benefits from your castoffs, and less ends up in a landfill.

Install a new front door and save money

By Tim Carter, Tribune Media Services — Fri, 10 May 2013 09:30:00 GMT

With a bit of carpentry advice, a gorgeous front door can be installed in one day.

Make sure flooring work is on the level

By Alan J. Heavens — Fri, 10 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Basement flooding presents an issue with installing new vinyl tile.

Get your ducts in a row

By Mike McClintock, Special to Tribune Newspapers — Fri, 10 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

What could be easier than opening windows for fresh air? In most weather, an air exchanger is more practical.

Careful design leaves house unscathed

By Jacqueline L. Urgo, The Philadelphia Inquirer — Wed, 08 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

When Hurricane Sandy roared ashore last fall, this house was the only one spared in one New Jersey town.

How to hire a housecleaner

By Kathryn Weber, Tribune Media Services — Tue, 07 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

If you can afford cleaning help, find a contractor dedicated to quality work.

How to strip woodwork

By Gene and Katie Hamilton, Tribune Media Services — Mon, 06 May 2013 09:30:00 GMT

While removing varnish can have stunning results, it's a messy, time-consuming job.