Michigan Home and Garden

Learn more about holiday decorating, flower arranging in time for the holidays

2009-11-10T22:00:48Z

J Schwanke, JTV host and internationally known floral designer, will teach holiday decorating classes this weekend.

West Michigan holiday craft shows

2009-11-10T19:03:13Z

A guide to local holiday craft shows. E-mail craft show information to yourlife@grpress.com.

Is copper right for your kitchen?

2009-11-08T10:56:47Z

The pros and cons of copper around the house.

Perennials should be divided or planted soon

2009-11-08T10:37:34Z

Don’t feel overwhelmed if fall chores have been delayed because of wet weather; we’re all in the same boat.

Don't let 'em bug you: Insects might seem creepy, but they're easy to eradicate

2009-11-01T11:41:50Z

These biting, aromatic invaders are multi-colored Asian lady beetles. And they’ll be back.

Knitted toys appeal to all: Author comes to talk about how-to in Grand Rapids

2009-11-01T11:21:49Z

“It’s probably the best job I could have ever hoped for in my life,” knitting book author Susan B. Anderson says.

Home fires: Consumers seek alternative energy sources to stay warm this winter

2009-11-01T11:21:06Z

Tax incentives for energy-efficient heating products stoke homeowners' savings.

West Michigan holiday craft shows

2009-10-31T15:41:15Z

A list of local craft shows running through December.

Help lawn enjoy an annual buffet of leaves

2009-10-25T07:06:04Z

Nature has a way of taking care of herself. The vast canopy of brilliant fall foliage soon will disappear onto the forest floor, enriching soil and sustaining beneficial microbes.

Ask a stupid question, and get some really obvious answers about what needs attention around the house

2009-10-18T11:00:00Z

“Why don’t you do something stupid?” I asked my younger son.I was serious.I figured if he broke something, I could repair it and then write about it in my next column.My son was smarter than that. There were plenty of...

Prepare to settle into your vehicle for those long hauls

2009-10-11T11:00:00Z

What makes a car a home?I’ll soon find out.For at least the next several weeks, I’ll be making daily trips to Grand Rapids. That will mean spending a lot more time in my vehicle than usual.To make things comfy, automakers...

In a high-tech world, old technology -- like reel-to-reel tape recorders, vacuum tubes and TV antennas -- still play a role

2009-10-04T11:00:00Z

Old technology dies hard.At least it does at our house.And judging from reader response, I’m not alone.Don’t get me wrong. I love today’s technology. A flash drive — that tiny device that plugs into computers to store and transport data...

How to work a double shift -- without the overtime

2009-09-27T11:00:00Z

Some days, you just can’t get ahead.The lawn needed mowing, but some short, simple tasks were demanding my immediate attention.In the basement, the dehumidifer was busy emptying all of its liquid contents onto the floor....

Upcoming home tour shows 'what it's like to live in Heritage Hill'

2009-09-27T09:20:49Z

This year's Heritage Hill Homes tour includes four public buildings and nine homes, seven of which never have been on the tour. They include an 1867 saltbox built on a former Civil War Cavalry camp, an 1890s shingle-style mansion, an 1896 Eastlake-adorned house built by a prominent area businessman with ties to the former Pantlind Hotel, a 1905 prairie-influenced home built by Keeler Brass owner George Keeler and a pair of Craftsman-stlye homes.

It's all in the design: Make the most of college digs with a bit of planning

2009-09-27T08:26:42Z

The first semester of the school year is in full swing and many college students might be feeling a bit cramped in their new campus digs. While college living arrangements are often uncomfortable, they don’t have to be. As an alternative to living in disorganized and self-induced collegiate squalor, three interior design majors from Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University have outlined plans for functional and appealing dorm and apartment living spaces without spending a fortune.

Mystery violet-eating creature likely a woodchuck or groundhog -- they're one and the same

2009-09-20T11:00:00Z

It's a woodchuck -- or a groundhog. Same thing. That's the consensus of readers who responded regarding the mystery of the "beaver with the fluffy tail," the fast-moving creature that has been busy eating leaves off the violets -- but...

Time to browse Fall Parade of Homes in Grand Rapids

2009-09-20T10:12:36Z

Adam Bird | The Grand Rapids PressUrban ranch: The house at 3532 Rosewood St. SW in Hudsonville is the smallest featured in the Fall Parade of Homes, but it is packed with amenities. GRAND RAPIDS -- Prospective buyers' pent-up curiosity...

Make life sparkle by learning not to clean

2009-09-20T09:26:03Z

Enter to win a free vaccum and check out Press readers' strategies to avoid cleaning.

Artistic floral displays in a forest near Nunica pay homage to museum masters

2009-09-13T11:30:27Z

Photo by Johnny Quirin | The Grand Rapids PressBob Friese and James Lutke admire one of their yet-untitled co-creations made out of beech branches and bound together by wire. Imagine La Grande Vitesse sitting not on cement in the middle...

Get organized, save money: Speaker will share tips, strategies at Grand Rapids seminars

2009-09-13T11:25:59Z

Deniece Schofield Money spent because of disorganization has created a billion-dollar industry, says organization mogul Deniece Schofield. People forget about the perfectly good can of beans at the back of the pantry and buy another. They can't find the detergent...